Chairman of Durham County Club Clive Leach, who is also a close associate of ECB chief Giles Clarke, have recently met a New York-based sports management company, Sports Capital Partners Worldwide to discuss the possibilities of an US team's participation, according to a report in 'Daily Telegraph'.

SCP Worldwide, founded by David Checketts, owns several Major League Soccer sides and ice hockey franchises. The company also operate as North American enterprises of Spanish football giant Real Madrid.

The report also stated that SCP Worldwide was among a number of investors who have expressed interest in the proposal for a nine-team franchise-based EPL earlier this year.

However, although the proposal was supported by Surrey, Lancashire and Hampshire as well as Marylebone Cricket Club chief executive Keith Bradshaw, ECB was against it.