Sheffield United are not among the “rebel clubs” trying to deliberately sabotage Project Restart and the return of English football.
The Daily Mail reports that there are at least six sides opposed to new plans to resume the 2019/20 season. The Premier League is working towards a return date of June 12. Matches have been indefinitely suspended since March 13 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
It has been dubbed Project Restart, yet there are claims that the bottom six teams in the table are planning on sabotaging the plans.
The Premier League needs 14 votes in favour to move forward with the project. It includes the idea of using 10 neutral venues to hold fixtures.
However, as many as eight clubs are reportedly ready to veto the plans. The accusation is that this is being done out of self interest, in order to avoid the drop into the Championship.
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In contrast, some towards the top end of the table are seeking to maintain promotion and relegation even if the campaign is cut short.
Brighton and Hove Albion chief executive, Paul Barber, has already said playing at neutral stadiums will damage the integrity of the competition. Brighton are 15th in the table and two points outside the drop zone.
Where do Sheffield United stand with Project Restart?
(Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
According to Yorkshire Live, the Blades are strongly in favour of the season finishing in whatever capacity. Manager Chris Wilder and CEO Stephen Bettis are ready to give their support to whatever the Premier League decides.
Other clubs, including Burnley, Crystal Palace, Leicester City, Newcastle United and Southampton, are taking the same stance. None of them are in the bottom six.
Project Restart is also strongly supported by both the FA and EFL. They are keen for top flight fixtures to resume, so that their own games can follow suit soon afterwards.
The next Premier League meeting is due to take place on Friday. This will follow Thursday’s announcement from the government about the next steps for lockdown. Chief executive Richard Masters is expected to ask for unity among teams and for them not to act in self interest.
There are significant financial concerns about the impact of not finishing the 2019/20 campaign. Most prevalent is the £762m still outstanding on the TV contract.
