Premier League clubs want season ended by June 30

More than half of the 20 Premier League clubs will vote in favour of having the 2019/20 season ended by the traditional June 30 deadline.

This is likely to be ratified at Friday’s shareholders’ meeting and the affected clubs are believed to be likely to go ahead with their position even if all games are not completed.

All 20 Premier League club executives will discuss, over a video call, the latest plans to end the season and, despite a commitment from many to end the campaign whatever it costs, some are fearful of the contract chaos that running past the end of June could bring.

Any player who was set to be out of contract at the end of the season, will be contracted until June 30.

However, if the season continues beyond that date, they would have no obligation to continue playing and extensions could prove complicated to agree with players keen not to threaten a future move or threaten injury.

The Football Association made the decision last month to indefinitely extend the date by which the season could be finished, while Fifa have published guidelines stating that any player whose contract is set to expire this summer should see it out until the end of the campaign, whenever that may be.

One Premier League club owner said: “Some clubs want the season to finish by the end of June.

“How can it be fair for European places and relegation to be decided by depleted squads.”

No decisions are expected to be ratified at Friday’s meeting and, as has always been the case, the season will only restart when the government advises it is safe to do so – most likely with games being played behind-closed-doors – if it is even able to at some point over the summer.

One Premier League owner said: “The meeting will be about financial survival and if and when we play games or abandon the season.

Sadly, the season could still be abandoned depending on government rules.”

Most Premier League teams have nine games left to play, including runaway leaders Liverpool who hold a 25-point advantage when games were suspended last month.