A commitment to "completing the season before the start of July" is reportedly among the options being considered by EPL clubs, which are due to meet on Friday. A resolution to consign the '19-20 campaign to history by June 30, whether or not the entire schedule of games has been completed, will be among the proposals. According to some reports, one of the "most significant factors driving the idea to finish by that point -- favoured by a large number of the league’s members -- is that numerous player and staff contracts expire by the end of June." If the proposal to settle the season by June 30 is accepted, the chances of "completing a 38-game schedule would appear distinctly remote" (London GUARDIAN, 4/15).
Legally, players cannot be forced to sign rolling contract extensions, raising "the possibility of clubs losing key parts of their squad before the campaign has been concluded." Putting a deadline on this season is "fraught with problems," particularly surrounding "relegation and promotion" (BBC, 4/16). EPL clubs fear that the start of the '20-21 season will be "put back until mid-September at the earliest," with sources saying that a "five or six week delay to the original Aug 8. kick-off is the best-case scenario" (ESPN.com, 4/16).
