MPs have called for two Premier League representatives to be removed from the Football Association board.
But the move - a recommendation within a 112-page report from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee (CMS) - is bound to meet with strong resistance.
It would drastically reduce the Premier League's influence and counter accusations of conflict of interest, in particular surrounding Sir David Richards’ position on the FA board as the chairman of the Premier League.
At present, a quarter of the 12-man FA board is made up of Premier League members - Manchester United's chief executive David Gill, Bolton chairman Phil Gartside and the Premier League chairman Sir David Richards.
But under the new recommendations, two of them would have to go, to be replaced by two new executives - one of whom MPs would clearly like to be Sir Trevor Brooking to place an emphasis on coaching.
In suggesting a new 10-man board, the report said: "There is a need to strike a balance between an FA board with a strong representative element and a board that is small enough to function effectively.
FA general secretary Alex Horne, FA chairman David Bernstein and Sir Trevor Brooking
FA general secretary Alex Horne with David Bernstein and Sir Trevor Brooking
"While we can see the arguments in favour of representation from other important stakeholders such as supporters, footballers and league managers, we believe the arguments in favour of a more streamlined board are stronger."
The report added: "We accept the value of Premier League, Football League and national (amateur) game representation on the board, but recommend that the board be constructed so that vested interests do not predominate."
The Premier League said in a statement: "The CMS Select Committee has undertaken a lengthy and considered inquiry into the governance structures of English football, one we were happy to contribute to with both written and oral evidence.
"We, along with the other football authorities, will now consider the report's contents and await the Sports Minister's response before taking a view on the recommendations and any part the Premier League may have to play in implementing them."
Meanwhile, the FA chairman David Bernstein is already known to favour adding two independent voices to the current FA board. An FA source told Sky News: "David Bernstein is a reformist, not a radical."
The MPs' report added: "The FA as the national governing body of English football is the most appropriate agency to take the lead in addressing the weaknesses of English football, but it needs urgent reform itself to carry out its responsibilities effectively and meet the future challenges of the game."
The committee of MPs also criticised leveraged buy-outs of football clubs, such as the Glazer family's acquisition of Manchester United and the former ownership of Tom Hicks and George Gillett at Liverpool.
The committee said: "In all the evidence we have received, a wholehearted defence of the use of leveraged buy-outs to buy football clubs is entirely absent.
"Within a football context, the leveraged buy-out appears to be a particularly risky vehicle with little obvious benefit, and certainly not to supporters and local communities."
Coaching in England also came in for criticism, with MPs saying: "The development of technical expertise is central to the future of the game in England. There appears to be clear evidence of historic drift that has left England far behind its main European competitors.
"We welcome the fact that the FA is now making a concerted effort to address the problem, and suggest that our recommendation of the appointment of the Director of Football Development to the FA Board would help to sustain the momentum."
But the move - a recommendation within a 112-page report from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee (CMS) - is bound to meet with strong resistance.
It would drastically reduce the Premier League's influence and counter accusations of conflict of interest, in particular surrounding Sir David Richards’ position on the FA board as the chairman of the Premier League.
At present, a quarter of the 12-man FA board is made up of Premier League members - Manchester United's chief executive David Gill, Bolton chairman Phil Gartside and the Premier League chairman Sir David Richards.
But under the new recommendations, two of them would have to go, to be replaced by two new executives - one of whom MPs would clearly like to be Sir Trevor Brooking to place an emphasis on coaching.
In suggesting a new 10-man board, the report said: "There is a need to strike a balance between an FA board with a strong representative element and a board that is small enough to function effectively.
FA general secretary Alex Horne, FA chairman David Bernstein and Sir Trevor Brooking
FA general secretary Alex Horne with David Bernstein and Sir Trevor Brooking
"While we can see the arguments in favour of representation from other important stakeholders such as supporters, footballers and league managers, we believe the arguments in favour of a more streamlined board are stronger."
The report added: "We accept the value of Premier League, Football League and national (amateur) game representation on the board, but recommend that the board be constructed so that vested interests do not predominate."
The Premier League said in a statement: "The CMS Select Committee has undertaken a lengthy and considered inquiry into the governance structures of English football, one we were happy to contribute to with both written and oral evidence.
"We, along with the other football authorities, will now consider the report's contents and await the Sports Minister's response before taking a view on the recommendations and any part the Premier League may have to play in implementing them."
Meanwhile, the FA chairman David Bernstein is already known to favour adding two independent voices to the current FA board. An FA source told Sky News: "David Bernstein is a reformist, not a radical."
The MPs' report added: "The FA as the national governing body of English football is the most appropriate agency to take the lead in addressing the weaknesses of English football, but it needs urgent reform itself to carry out its responsibilities effectively and meet the future challenges of the game."
The committee of MPs also criticised leveraged buy-outs of football clubs, such as the Glazer family's acquisition of Manchester United and the former ownership of Tom Hicks and George Gillett at Liverpool.
The committee said: "In all the evidence we have received, a wholehearted defence of the use of leveraged buy-outs to buy football clubs is entirely absent.
"Within a football context, the leveraged buy-out appears to be a particularly risky vehicle with little obvious benefit, and certainly not to supporters and local communities."
Coaching in England also came in for criticism, with MPs saying: "The development of technical expertise is central to the future of the game in England. There appears to be clear evidence of historic drift that has left England far behind its main European competitors.
"We welcome the fact that the FA is now making a concerted effort to address the problem, and suggest that our recommendation of the appointment of the Director of Football Development to the FA Board would help to sustain the momentum."