READING FC are one of 15 Championship clubs considering forming a breakaway league due to their opposition of a new broadcasting deal, according to reports.

The English Football League is set to sign a new, £590m contract with Sky Sports that will run from 2019-2024.

The deal - worth £119m per season - is a significant increase on the previous one of £88m.

But a host of Championship clubs are said to be dissatisfied because they believe the deal undervalues the product on offer and would earn them less money per game as more will be shown on the red button or via Sky's website.

Each Championship club currently receives £2.3m from Sky per season along with a share of £10.8m based on the number of times their games are screened live.

Those figures would increase to £2.95m and £17.7m under the new deal.

However, it is thought a host of clubs in the division want the level of funding to rise significantly to help them keep afloat.

The Times reports that Reading are among the 15 clubs involved in talks over a new breakaway league which would strike its own broadcasting deals.

The other clubs include Aston Villa, West Brom, Norwich City, Preston North End, Nottingham Forest, Middlesbrough, Swansea City and Birmingham City.

It is believed Leeds United and Derby County are the main forces behind the ‘rebel’ group which allegedly met in secret last week to discuss the best way forward.

The EFL reacted by calling an emergency meeting which failed to find a quick solution.

Reading will earn one of the lowest sums from TV revenue in the Championship this season.

Just five Royals games will have been broadcast live up until April 10, with only two clubs featuring less.

The EFL now has until Monday 4pm to sign the new Sky contract which has been on the table since September 2017.

There is no alternative offer on the table from any other broadcaster at this stage, and League One and League Two clubs are said to be happy with the terms of the new Sky deal.

It has also been suggested the Premier League is opposed to the formation of a new, breakaway league which would need its backing to move forward.

Reading FC has been approached for a comment.