Robertson has asked the Central Council for Physical Recreation (CCPR) to review the current voluntary code under which five per cent of what the national governing bodies earn from television is reinvested to help the development of sport.

The Football Association, the Lawn Tennis Association, England and Wales Cricket Board, Rugby Football Union, the Royal & Ancient, Rugby Football League and UK Athletics are all signatories to the current code.

Robertson would like to see the code changed with the minimum being increased to 30 per cent.

He said: "I have asked the CCPR to undertake this review as part of my drive to extend the opportunities through sport to the maximum number of people.

"While 30 per cent may sound ambitious I am optimistic that this can be achieved.

"National governing bodies have a duty to ensure that they have the strongest community structure possible.

"A thriving grassroots is only going to help the sport at the top end."

The review of the code will focus on national governing bodies and is unlikely to include commercial organisations like the Premier League and PGA European Tour.

Under the current code the five per cent investment includes expenditure by governing bodies on youth programmes, community sports facilities, education and training, research and development.

The figures are significant.

The ECB's current deal with Sky Sports that runs from 2010 until 2013, for example, is worth £260 million ($397 million).

Under the present agreement, they donate £13 million ($20 million) from it to grassroots deal.

Under Robertson's revamped scheme, it would be £78 million ($119 million).

The ECB already fear that the value of their next televison deal will be dramatically reduced if the Government adds the Ashes series to the list of television "crown jewels", events that are protected and have to be shown on a terrestrial channel.

CCPR chief executive Tim Lamb said: "The voluntary code of conduct already ensures that tens of millions of pounds are returned to grassroots sports each year.

"That makes possible all kinds of community programmes which wouldn’t otherwise happen.

"All signatories reinvest significantly more than five per cent, but a potential increase to 30 per cent would provide even more of a cast-iron guarantee for grassroots sport.

"Governing bodies are uniquely placed to strike an appropriate balance between exposure for their sport and broadcasting revenues.

"The voluntary code ensures that everyone has a chance to see iconic sporting events on free-to-air television, yet at the same time it allows governing bodies to raise enough money to keep those events and the grassroots of their sports healthy in the current difficult economic times."

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