The Premier League faces the most significant remaining challenge to Project Restart on Thursday, with relegation-threatened clubs expected to oppose the plan to implement a points-per-game calculation if the season is curtailed.

Of all the issues to be discussed at the chairmen’s meeting on Thursday this is the one causing more animosity and controversy than any other.

According to the Telegraph the bottom six – hardly surprisingly – are still entirely unconvinced about the merits of relegation being decided on clubs’ average number of points per game should the Covid-19 pandemic force a second halt to games following the proposed restart date of June 17.

On Saturday the Premier League returned no positive results for the first time, in the fourth round of testing, which examined 1,130 samples for coronavirus.

It is anticipated that the Premier League board will have to decide on an outcome by the time that any action .resumesA

The Premier League faces the most significant remaining challenge to Project Restart on Thursday, with relegation-threatened clubs expected to oppose the plan to implement a points-per-game calculation if the season is curtailed.

The bottom six clubs are unconvinced about the merits of relegation being decided on clubs’ average number of points per game should the Covid-19 pandemic force a second halt to games following the proposed restart date of June 17.

On Saturday the Premier League returned no positive results for the first time, in the fourth round of testing, which examined 1,130 samples for coronavirus.

Although there is no vote yet proposed for this Thursday on the question of curtailment, it is anticipated that the Premier League board will have to decide on an outcome by the time that the action resumes.

Premier League clubs have been advised that they would face serious legal challenges from the clubs in the Championship promotion positions should they be denied a place in the top flight.

ClaretandHugh says: It’s not going to go away and whatever the Premier League decides on this one they are caught on the doubled edged sword of a dilemma from both the bottom six and the Football League top two and eventual play off winners. They would face hefty and very likely, successful challenges from those involved and it will focus minds very sharply when the discussion starts on Thursday. The whole process behind Project Restart has been to avoid losing or paying out money and the legal threats involved in any action would undoubtedly be substantial with up to six clubs bringing independent actions.Despite being government starting date for the game to restart, the Premier League still faces some extremely thorny issues to overcome before the first game kicks off between Sheffield United and Aston Villa on the 17th of June. West Ham have regularly made it clear along with Brighton and Watford that they are very much in the no relegation camp.