THE Championship’s top six clubs are reportedly ready to take legal action against the Premier League if three teams are not promoted to the top-flight.
All elite football in England has been postponed until April 3 at the earliest due to the coronavirus pandemic that has rocked the world.
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Scott Parker’s Fulham side are just six points from an automatic promotion spot in the ChampionshipCredit: PA:Empics Sport
The Premier League have already faced calls to declare the current campaign null and void in fear that the remaining fixtures won’t be played in time for next season.
But such a decision would wreak havoc in terms of which teams would be crowned champions, who would qualify for European competitions and which sides are ultimately promoted or relegated.
One idea proposed could be to hand Leeds and West Brom a place in next season’s Premier League as the two teams currently in the Championship’s automatic promotion spots.
However, there are still 27 points to play for with nine matches remaining and each of the rest of the top six could potentially secure a top-two finish.
Leaders Leeds and second-placed West Brom are only seven and six points respectively ahead of Scott Parker’s Fulham in third place.
And according to The Times, the current top six – which also includes Brentford, Nottingham Forest and Preston – all held a secret meeting on Monday to discuss a course of action should only two teams be promoted.
The report adds that a second meeting via conference call is due to be held on Tuesday that will involve the entirety of the 24-team Championship.
Promotion to the Premier League is thought to be worth an estimated £200million to second-division clubs.
And Leeds United’s managing director Angus Kinnear has already stressed that it is “vital” the football season is finished – even if that means playing behind closed doors.
Coronavirus has officially been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation, and countries are banning large gathering to avoid the spread.
In a huge move on March 17, Uefa announced that they were postponing Euro 2020 until the summer of 2021.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk