How today’s Premier League meeting could change the face of Sheffield Wednesday’s season
and live on Freeview channel 276
The top tier meeting will include honchos from recently promoted Leeds United, West Brom and Fulham and among the talking points are whether to press forward with a five-subs rule and the welcoming back of spectators into stadiums. Clubs will also discuss a possible roadmap in the event of another curtailed season.
Uncertainty reigns over what the Championship may look like heading into the next campaign, which will start on September 12, but on major decisions the EFL have routinely followed the blueprints set in Premier League meetings gone by
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdFinancial constraints at second tier clubs are rife with a freeze on matchday revenue stretching from March. The calculations of one prominent football finance expert suggests Wednesday make some 37 per cent of their revenue on matchdays, meaning they will be listening intently for news of any way forward.
Plans to use the Community Shield clash between Liverpool and Arsenal as a pilot for a reduced-crowd match have been shelved after the Government tightened lockdown restrictions last week.
But this afternoon’s meeting will discuss the possibility of allowing small numbers of supporters into pre-season matches with a view to assessing safety heading into the season proper.
Another point of order Wednesday will be whether the five-sub rule will be extended after it was ratified for potential implementation by FIFA last month.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe Owls’ threadbare squad was punished on a handful of occasions following the lockdown suspension as bigger squads emptied their bench of internationals.
Asked about the potential extension of the five-sub rule, Owls boss Garry Monk told The Star: “Moving forward, I can understand why the decision has been made, and it’s not going to change too much.
“It’s a short turnaround, quicker preparation again, but I’m sure it will return back to three at some point. I can see why they’ve made the decision for the short-term view for now into next season.”