The plan was for clubs finishing fourth to seventh to
play-off for England’s last Champions League spot.
League executives delivered a feasibility study to the clubs on
Thursday in which the practical difficulties of fitting the
additional matches into the crowded end-of-season programme was
made clear.
These logistical difficulties, as well as concerns about the
integrity of a competition where league positions are decided over
38 games led to the idea being abandoned.
Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal were all
predictably opposed, and the strong performance of Manchester City,
Tottenham and Aston Villa in the race for fourth this season also
eroded support. Fulham and Birmingham are also understood to have
spoken against the plan at Thursday’s meeting.
Asked to vote on a proposal for the League to further explore the
options, the clubs voted 11-9 in favour, short of the 14-6 majority
required for any measure to be passed.
Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore confirmed there
was “not enough support” for the proposal.
West Ham chairman David Gold said there was considerable support
for the idea but the logistical obstacles were insurmountable.
“It was just a physical thing, finding time in the calendar,” said
Gold. “The clubs that would be involved in a play-off could also be
involved in the FA Cup and Champions League, so it just could not
be done.
“But there was a feeling in the room that a play-off could make the
league more exciting and bring more clubs the possibility of
getting into Europe.”
Meanwhile Portsmouth will have to wait until a High Court hearing
later this month before the Premier League considers granting any
concessions to ease their financial plight.
Administrator Andrew Andronikou met the League board on Thursday to
discuss his request that the club be allowed to sell players and
loan them back outside the transfer window.
The proposal is highly unlikely to be allowed, but no decision will
be taken until the High Court has ruled on a challenge from Her
Majesty’s Revenue and Customs over the legality of the
administration.
Portsmouth manager Avram Grant has been warned as to his future
conduct and fined £1,000, with a further £4,000 fine suspended
until the end of the season, after he admitted a charge of improper
conduct to the Football Association.
The incident related to his behaviour towards referee Kevin Friend
during Pompey’s Barclays Premier League match against Sunderland on
Feb 9.
Grant stormed on to the Fratton Park pitch and confronted Friend at
the end of the first half of the match. He was dismissed and
watched the second half from the directors’ box.