PL 'will consider relegating current bottom three' if season doesn't resume

The Premier League will consider relegating the bottom three clubs based on current league position if there is no resumption to the 2019/20 season.

Rebel clubs led by Aston Villa and Brighton have gathered enough to support to delay a vote on football's return at Monday's scheduled video conference between the 20 top-flight clubs.

But there is growing frustration among the majority of clubs and PL hierarchy that self-interest is preventing Project Restart from happening in June and an alternative plan is being considered in which Norwich, Aston Villa and Bournemouth would drop into The Championship if the season was ended.

The Premier League will also stress to club chiefs on Monday that any agreement to stop the season would need to include a legally binding clause in which clubs accept they may have to return tens of millions of pounds to broadcasters.

The hardening of positions of both sides is a consequence of having no proposal likely to carry 14 of the 20 votes required to pass.

The Premier League wants to resume their season with matches at neutral grounds and believe a large majority of players support the idea given rigorous testing and monitoring is available.

However, those teams threatened by relegation are blocking the idea and argue neutral grounds dilutes sporting integrity, pointing out Bundesliga clubs will use their own stadiums when their league returns.

Brighton Chief Executive Paul Barber has set up a What's App group for the "rebels" to discuss strategy and it's believed Norwich, Bournemouth, Villa, Watford and West Ham would also vote against a resumption in its current form, leaving the Premier League vulnerable if just one other club joined them.

The upshot is it's likely that a vote is pushed back until later in the month by which time the PL would draw up alternative arrangements which would be less palatable clubs in the bottom three.

If Norwich, Villa and Bournemouth were forced to choose between relegation and playing out the season to save their status, the Premier League would be more confident of receiving the 14 votes they need. It is understood Newcastle and Southampton, the clubs closest to the bottom six, feel sufficiently safe to want to play on.

Using the current table to determine who drops into The Championship would anger Villa in particular would cry "foul" as they have a game in hand over 17th place Watford and would go above The Hornets if they won it.

The Midlands clubs would be expected to consider a legal challenge although that decision would be weakened if they were outvoted by other clubs and had themselves refused to play games to save their status on merit.

The Premier League, whose best-case scenario is to hold a vote later this month in order to play again in June, will also remind clubs of the potential financial cost of not completing the 92 outstanding fixtures.

They are aware UK and world broadcasters could demand a refund worth hit them for a refund worth nine figures if games don't go ahead - particularly if The Government doesn't put any legal blocks in place.

The league will demand in any legal agreement to end the season that clubs accept they are liable for the income being returned, which could concentrate the mind even further.

Setting up comprehensive testing has been key to PL confidence that it will be safe to return to action. Thirty-five kits will be given to each club at the beginning and end of each week so players and staff can be tested by medical professionals.

Those tested on Monday and proving negative would isolate at home for the rest of the day and be able to train Tuesday-Friday with their temperatures checked daily and another test taken at the end of the week.

No specific neutral venues have been selected yet though the preference is to have them away from populated residential areas. However it is also possible that the Premier League drops the idea to give Brighton's grouping one less excuse not to play.

Burnley's Ben Mee has publicly welcomed the idea of returning to football regardless of the location: 'I think as players we can play football and it still works on the park or if it's in an unfamiliar stadium. Hopefully we can get these games televised and people can watch them and enjoy them.'

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, whose club are supportive of a safe return to action next month, said he wouldn’t force any of his players to take part if they felt uncomfortable.

‘You wouldn’t hold anything against them. If a player is not mentally ready to play I don’t think we could force anyone,’ he said. ‘They’ve not raised too many concerns, but of course we trust the experts, the health officers.

‘Whatever they decide it’s going to be a boost for everyone to get football back on. I’m just hoping we get a safe solution soon.’