Premier League chiefs are expected to clash with clubs at Friday’s shareholders meeting over which venues could be used to finish the campaign.
The Premier League will use the fortnightly conference call to present all 20 clubs with details of ‘Project Restart’, including proposals to play the remaining 92 matches behind closed doors at “approved” venues. It remains to be decided if only a limited number of Premier League grounds or entirely neutral venues will be used.
The majority of clubs are desperate to continue playing at their own grounds rather than squander home advantage, but there is a growing acceptance that competition will only be able to resume under the terms of the League’s radical plan.
St George’s Park — England’s Staffordshire training base — and Wembley are considered leading options, although the absence of broadcast facilities at the former would need to be rectified.
The Premier League have also made initial contact with Twickenham about using the home of English rugby, which would be available over June and July if necessary.
Project Restart includes plans to resume competition on June 8 and finish the top-flight campaign by the end of July, in line with Uefa’s timetable for completing seasons.
European football’s governing body have given the Premier League until May 25 to reveal details of their plan, including the confirmed restart date and format of the competition.
The proposals would require top-flight players to return to full training by May 18 and, from today, Tottenham have joined Arsenal, West Ham and Brighton in allowing players to return to their training ground under strict guidelines.
Spurs have made a limited number of pitches available at Hotspur Way, their Enfield training base, for first-team players to train individually, with no more than one player per pitch and a limited number of the squad permitted access daily. Each player will travel independently and arrive at the facilities already in training gear.
