Premier League clubs believe there is a genuine possibility that the only way to finish the season at neutral grounds may be to void relegation.
While unpalatable to broadcasters, many fans and a number of clubs, the issue of whether or not clubs can be relegated while completing the season behind closed doors at neutral venues may well prove to be decisive.
There are thought to be as many as 10 Premier League clubs that are uncomfortable with the idea of completing the season at neutral grounds. The bottom six, already cast as potential saboteurs to ‘Project Restart’, are clearly most concerned by relegation. Others have health and safety fears regarding their players and fans.
While there is a unanimous desire within the Premier League to finish the current season, it is not necessarily at all costs for those who risk losing the most.
Two Premier League members in danger of going down have calculated that the cost to their clubs of the season being cancelled would be around £50million, while relegation would cost them in the region of £200m.
Faced with those kinds of figures, they believe they have a duty to act in the best interests of their clubs, even if they do not completely run parallel to what might be considered best for football as a whole.
They will also argue that the move to restart the season is fuelled by a variety of different self interests, so why should theirs be viewed any differently to Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy wanting to play out the season to help pay for his club’s £1billion stadium or Chelsea’s need to confirm qualification for the Champions League to fund their huge wage bill?
It needs 14 clubs or more to vote in favour of finishing the season at neutral grounds, which means the bottom six could not block it on their own if the possibility of voiding relegation was categorically taken off the table.
But those clubs also know that the top six cannot afford to take the risk of them getting just one more vote on their side and, in reality, what do the Glazers, Levy or Roman Abramovich really care whether or not Norwich City, Aston Villa and Bournemouth are relegated?
So there is already the possibility some of the bigger clubs having to accept they may have to give up relegation to push through what they want and there are also other alliances forming.
Given how the top six have supposedly acted in their own interests for so long and been seen by those below them to do everything in their power to protect their hold over the League, why would, in theory, a Burnley or a Sheffield United align themselves with them?
It is more likely in future that clubs such as those will find themselves wanting the support of some of the Leagues lesser lights, so why not do them a favour now and hope for one back at a later date? It may seem fanciful, but these are the deliberations facing chairmen and chief executives over the course of this week.
Telegraph Sport understands that private discussions have already taken place over potentially promoting the top two from the Championship, Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion, to play in an expanded 22-team Premier League next season.
That would remove the threat of a legal threat from Leeds and West Brom if relegation is voided, although there is recognition that at least another six Championship clubs with play-off ambitions may quickly consult their lawyers.
Given the lottery that is the play-offs, there is a feeling that it would be hard for clubs to argue that they had been denied promotion and the associated riches by the removal of relegation from the Premier League.
© Provided by The Telegraph Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa watches on during the first half during the Sky Bet Championship match between Leeds United and Bristol City at Elland Road - CAMERASPORT
The threat of not finishing the season for the EFL is also considered much greater than that faced by Premier League clubs. Championship, League One and League Two clubs have already been warned that there may be no relegation if the campaign cannot be completed.
A curtailment of the EFL season and the voiding of relegation would only further increase the debate over whether or not Premier League clubs should face relegation.
Some of the pain felt by those denied a chance to get into the top-flight could be eased through a compensation package paid to Championship clubs or shared between the entire EFL from the parachute payments that the Premier League would save from not having any of their current members go down.
There would also be the question of prize money. Would those saved from relegation get prize money based on their final standings or would they all have to accept the payment for finishing 20th with the extra money distributed equally between all clubs outside the bottom six?
These are not ideas that have been discussed in the Premier League meetings or formally between clubs, but they are the sorts of potential solutions people are having to consider, however much they may have to deny it or play it down.
Then there are the broadcasters to think of. Sky Sports and BT Sport are believed to be ready to argue against any move to remove the drama of relegation. With Liverpool already champions in waiting, the European places and relegation spots promise to provide the most excitement.
Taking away relegation would render many games, including the scheduled final-day clash between West Ham United and Aston Villa, as meaningless. But, again, there may well be those ready to try to negotiate their way through that.
The television broadcasters could certainly be sure of wresting greater control over scheduling for future seasons by making a concession for the remainder of this term. Thursday night football for next season? More Saturday night games? Greater access to managers and players? These could all be used as bargaining tools.
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