Premier League clubs failed yesterday to agree on a plan to change the way they share income from the league’s overseas broadcasting deals.

With a two-thirds majority needed to change the current set-up, Premier League executive chairman Richard Scudamore had hoped to persuade at least 14 of the 20 clubs to back the proposal yesterday.

But with the clubs firmly split into two camps, a vote was pointless and more discussions will take place in November.

Under the current rules, the league’s growing overseas broadcast revenues are shared evenly but the so-called “big six” — Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham — believe they should get a bigger share because of their greater popularity abroad.

Scudamore’s proposed compromise is to allocate 35 per cent of the overseas pot according to final league position, which is a similar formula to how the domestic rights are shared out.

Last season, this would have given Chelsea an extra £12.4 million and reduced Sunderland’s take by the same amount. But with the Premier League’s overseas income rising faster than its domestic revenue, this differential would only grow.

Going into the meeting, it seemed that only Everton, Leicester and West Ham were minded to side with the big six in backing the proposal, which would, in theory, leave the top 13 better off.

Newcastle and Watford were reportedly tempted but Crystal Palace, Stoke and Swansea remain strongly opposed to any attempt to weaken the principle of revenue-sharing.

The league’s current domestic deals bring in more than £5 billion over three seasons. But large recent increases are not expected to continue.

Global rights show greater growth, with the Chinese sale going for 10 times the previous amount. The league has more than 80 deals with overseas broadcasters and they already bring in more than £1bn a season.