Just when things seem to be shaping up just right, suddenly a glitch threatens to disrupt the entire picture.
League Manager Association chief executive Richard Bevan has warned the Premier League season could be cancelled if clubs are not in agreement to playing at neutral grounds.
Premier League clubs have been given the understanding that the only way to complete the season is for the remaining 92 matches to be played at neutral venues as part of plans outlined in Project Restart.
“The Government, if they haven’t already, will be making it clear that home matches with densely populated stadia really puts into question whether social distancing rules can be adhered to and without doubt that will be on the voting next Monday with the clubs,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
Bevan’s comments were issued as Aston Villa joined Brighton in their public opposing of the idea of completing the Premier League season at neutral venues.
Aston Villa’s chief executive Christian Purslow was quick in warning that clubs would not be in support of measures that increased the risk of the “£200million catastrophe” that is relegation.
“Personally I’m against it,” Purslow said on talkSPORT. “We’re a club that prides itself on home form. Two-thirds of our wins this season have come at home.
“We’ve got six home games left to play and I think any Villa fan would agree that giving up that advantage is a massive decision for somebody running Aston Villa and I certainly wouldn’t agree to that unless those circumstances are right.”
Villa, sit in the relegation zone as things stand having played a game less than those around them, and are two points behind West Ham – who are outside the bottom three on goal difference – with Brighton a further two points better off in 15th place.