The controversial Villa chairman said the time is right for Premiership big boys to be allowed to adopt Nationwide Football League clubs as feeder teams.

Ellis claims that 75% of Premership clubs are in favour of salary capping.

Salary capping operates in many American sports, where clubs have to tailor their squads within a spending limit on wages.

Ellis told BBC Radio Five Live: "We have to have 100% support because it is for the good of all of us, including the big, big clubs who pay the big, big wages."

"Unfortunately, they can't see it for themselves.

"The clubs in question are Plc's and believe wages are the result of the marketplace.

"They feel their responsibility is to their shareholders and should not be subject to an overall cap."

With many Football League clubs facing financial disaster with the collapse of ITV Digital, Ellis feels Premiership clubs should be allowed to adopt Nationwide League clubs.

Ellis claims he was approached by Walsall several years ago with a proposal to be Villa's feeder club, but rules prevented such a move.

Speaking from the Soccerex conference in Dubai, the Villa chairman said: "I then had another club, who I won't name, who asked if we could take them on.

"I told them it would not be possible, not because of the Premiership but because their own league would not wish to see it.

"That could change, though, as several clubs are in serious difficulty."