Alan Shearer has warned Project Big Picture ‘wouldn’t allow’ for another Jack Walker story in the Premier League.

Shearer starred in Rovers’ Premier League win 25 years ago, as under Walker’s stewardship, they scaled the heights of the English game to lift the trophy at Anfield.

The Premier League's record goalscorer knows the importance of supporting the EFL, but is suspicious of the motives of Manchester United and Liverpool, the clubs behind ‘Project Big Picture’, and their owners.

While the proposals promise an immediate £250m rescue package for EFL clubs, it would come at a cost, including a reduction in the Premier League to 18 teams, greater power given to the so-called ‘big six’ with the removal of equal voting rights, the abolition of the League Cup and Community Shield, as well as greater flexibility between top flight clubs loaning players to counterparts in the EFL.

And Shearer is also concerned that handing extra power to the so-called 'Big Six' clubs would limit the ambition of others in the league.

He said in The Athletic: "People say 'Big Six', but where were Manchester City 20 years ago? I'm not saying that to disrespect Manchester City. I'm saying it because things change in football.

"We won the league at Blackburn when Jack Walker owned the club. That wouldn't be allowed under this system because the top six clubs wouldn't want anyone coming along with a genuine love of football, like Jack had, and trying to get his club to compete with them."

The EFL has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, with games continuing to be played behind closed doors, and a bleak winter predicted.

While the plans circulated over the weekend include providing funding to the 72 EFL clubs, Shearer questions the reasons behind it.

He added: "They come from American sport, where there's no promotion and relegation. Are you telling me they bought those clubs because they have a genuine interest in English football in the long term?

"What happens if some owners decide they don't want promotion and relegation? It doesn't sit right with me at all.

"There is absolutely a need to support the football pyramid through a really difficult time and I do understand why the Premier League clubs would be reluctant just to hand over the money.

"They might want to attach conditions to that because there are a lot of lower-division clubs that were in trouble before Covid came along. But saying you'll hand over the money if you get all of these things in return? It will kill competition."