The Premier League can expect a legal battle from six Championship clubs if they decide to scrap promotion and relegation this season.
The uncertainty surrounding football at the moment, especially in the Premier League, is unlike anything we have ever seen. English football authorities are dealing with a true crisis as they failed to have a proper plan in place for any major events that would halt league action.
Football authorities must come up with a solution to finish the 2019-20 campaign. Delaying when the season kicks off again is a much better option than simply ending the season early and scrapping relegation.
According to an exclusive report from the Mirror, if the Premier League decides to end the season and keep the same 20 teams next term, they can expect a major legal battle from the following six clubs in the Championship: Leeds United, West Brom, Fulham, Brentford, Nottingham Forest and Preston.
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These clubs currently make up the top six in the Championship table, which means every team has a chance to earn promotion to the top flight.
First and second place earn direct promotion to the Premier League, whereas teams ranked three through six must compete in a play-off tournament to go up to the next division.
That being said, these clubs are prepared to take legal action against the Premier League for a few reasons. Firstly, the ultimate goal of teams in the second tier of English football is to earn promotion to the Premier League.
Many player contracts include significant bonuses in their contracts for leading the team to promotion, but those players could leave if such promises are left unfulfilled.
Generally speaking, one of the only pull factors for quality players signing contracts with prominent Championship clubs is to move up and play in the top flight.
Secondly, teams in promotion places would miss out on several million (£) in prize money that is used to boost newly-promoted sides’ transfer budgets, and help them better handle the cost of operating a club in the Premier League.
Thirdly, Championship clubs that have recently been relegated from the Premier League receive what are known as parachute payments that are spread out over three seasons to prevent a financial collapse.
For a team like West Brom, which was relegated at the end of the 2017-18 campaign, they will receive their final parachute payment next season, so one can see why the Baggies are worried.
Finally, there is a massive disparity between the amount of money generated from television rights in the Premier League and the Championship. The possibility of missing out on the chance to earn at least £100m from television rights alone is a major reason why the aforementioned clubs are ready for a legal battle.
In addition, the same report went on to say that all 24 Championship clubs are expected to have a meeting via conference calls. The purpose of the meeting is to reach a consensus on how the league should approach promotion and relegation, and what the collective reaction should be to any decision made by the Premier League.