Sheffield United manager, Chris Wilder, has criticised those clubs blocking Project Restart.
The Premier League plans to resume on June 8 and play the outstanding 92 fixtures that remain behind closed doors. All matches have been indefinitely suspended since March 13 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Yet, as the Independent reports, the bottom six are opposing this new project. The latest sticking point has been the decision to hold the remaining games in neutral stadiums.
Executives Paul Barber at Brighton and Hove Albion and Christian Purslow at Aston Villa have publicly said they don’t want to give up home advantage. However, they have been told there is no alternative.
Villa are currently second from bottom and in the relegation zone. Brighton are two points outside of the bottom three in 15th.
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Some now believe that their sole motive is to avoid the drop and will therefore oppose any proposals put forwards. A majority of 14 of the 20 clubs need to vote in favour for the plans to go ahead.
It means that if one more would join the six against, they could not proceed. This is creating a divide in the division.
What Chris Wilder thinks about the Project Restart rebels
(Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
While fellow newly promoted sides Villa and Norwich City are among the dissenters, the Blades are in an entirely different position.
Their return to the top flight in 2019/20 has been hugely successful and they are currently seventh in the table. Wilder has always said he wants to finish the season and is unhappy that some are voting out of self interest.
“One of the slightly disappointing things is that people have taken a line on their position in the division,” the 52-year-old told beIN Sports.
“I think that’s a little bit disappointing. We’ve got to look at the bigger picture.
“I’ve had experience of working in all levels of football and I do understand the implications if the Premier League didn’t restart and what effect that would have down the pyramid.”
