The Premier League clubs have agreed in principle to use neutral venues for some of the remaining 92 matches of this season.

The issue has been one of the most contentious around Project Restart, with some clubs vehemently opposed to the idea, but there is now a general agreement following Thursday’s shareholders meeting.

The Telegraph reportd that at one stage the Premier League, claiming it was following a demand by the Government, police and safety authorities had suggested all the matches were played at a select number of neutral venues but this plan was ditched after the clubs rebelled.

But following today’s Premier League meeting the reality is that only very few – if, indeed, any – of the remaining matches will be selected for neutral venues and it will be decided on a case-by-case basis.

Last week deputy chief constable Mark Roberts, the police lead on football, identified six matches that should be played at neutral venues. Three matches involving Liverpool – including the one in which they win the Premier League title – were selected with the fear that fans would congregate.

However, following opposition, it appears this plan is likely to be revised with the decisions on whether games can take place at a club’s home stadium likely to rest with the local safety advisory group in consultation with the police.

It is now expected that a fixture list, at least for the first few rounds of matches, will be produced on Friday.

Ben Johnson added to the squad

West Ham are understood to be struggling with what’s being described as ” a number of small injuries ” to defenders ahead of the Premier League Restart.

No names have been divulged but Angelo Ogbonna is known to be recovering from a setback and there have been doubts over the full fitness of Aaron Cresswell as we  close in on the resumption of the programme.

But according to sources close to the training ground that may not be the full extent of the problem with one telling us on the ‘phone: “We are short on numbers at the back and a few are carrying small injuries although we expect them to recover.”

He added however that the main problems may lie ahead of that.

David Moyes has claimed consistently that the pressure of so many games in such a short time is a big concern and the current situation probably explains why young Ben John son has been added to the squad.

No firm details have yet been published but according to TalkSPORT the full list of fixtures has become known to them and are published here.

It’s surprising given the reticence being shown by the Premier League in releasing details but the radio station clearly believes that it has nailed things

The full list of remaining games according the them is published at https://talksport.com/football/712081/which-premier-league-games-watch-fixtures-tv-radio-air-free/

And it shows that our relegation rivals are all involved in home games with the Canaries hosting Saints, Villa entertaining Chelsea and Watford meeting Leicester with Bournemouth welcoming Palace.

Brighton meanwhile play Newcastle United at the Amex whilst the following weekend see all the relegation fighters facing tricky away games.

As explained in an earlier piece on the site we are expecting the first games of the restart to be  published later today with the Hammers looking likely to play Wolverhampton Wanderers at the London Stadium on Saturday June the 20th at 5pm.

The Premier League is meeting again today as they move closer to a restart on 17th June with West Ham due to play their first fixture against Wolves on Saturday 20th June.

On the agenda will be whether top-flight clubs will be willing to play certain matches at neutral venues on police advice based risk assessments.

They’ll also try to come up with a plan to finalize the league table if the season cannot be completed using unweighed points per games but the potential for scrapping relegation is not expected to be on the agenda.

Clubs will also vote on whether to allow up to five substitutes during games. West Ham manager David Moyes is reported as he doesn’t want the Premier League to approve the use of five substitutes during games. Moyes believes rules can’t be changed halfway through a competition.

A statement is expected later as to what decisions have been made by the twenty-member clubs with fourteen votes required to pass any decision.

West Ham’s opening game of the resumed fixture looks likely to be on Saturday June 20 with a 5pm kick off.

The dates and times of the opening games are expected to be formally released later on today after the Premier League chairmen’s meeting.

There have been various times put forward over the past few days with a Friday night kick off being published by one leading newspaper.

But it seems more likely now that we will be kicking off against Wolverhampton Wanderers on June 20th in a match to be broadcast world wide.

A Hammers source explained to CandH on the ‘phone that whilst nothing is yet written in tablets of stone that was the expectation inside the London Stadium.

He explained : “The Premier League have been keeping things close to their chest on fixtures but that’s our expectation – Saturday June 20 at 5pm.”

The first game is expected to be on June 17 between Sheffield United and Aston Villa.

Spurs have had one positive coronavirus result in the latest round of testing by the Premier League, the club announced.

That unnamed person will now self-isolate for seven days.

“Due to medical confidentiality, the individual’s name will not be disclosed,” Spurs said in a statement on their website.

That was the only positive result after 1,197 players and staff were checked in the latest round of testing.

There have now been five rounds of testing and the total of positive results has increased to 13 from 5,079 tests including positive results from Burnley, Watford and Bournemouth.

Premier League players and staff are currently tested twice a week, with the league set to resume on 17th June.

Nine people at six Championship clubs have tested positive in the latest round of testing.

Preston, Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield said they each have one person who returned a positive test.

It comes after 10 positive tests in England’s second-tier and seven in League Two on Saturday.

In the Championship, 1,094 people were tested over the past four days and those who are positive will self-isolate in line with EFL guidelines. In League Two, a total of 126 players and staff were tested but all came back negative.

More than 4,000 tests on players and staff have been carried out in the Championship since 21 May, with 24 individuals testing positive including Fulham and Hull City.

Claret and Hugh say:

Spurs become the fourth Premier League club to confirm a positive test with up to five other top-flight clubs who decided not to come forward.

West Ham is not thought to have had any positive test results but have decided to stay tight-lipped on publicly confirming one way or another.

Players started contact training last Thursday so it is too early say whether that will have an impact on positive test results.

The re-start of the Premier League is twelve days away with a date yet to be set for the Championship.

Clubs will be hoping that infection rates remain low in Premier League players and staff to allow the remaining 92 fixtures to be paid on a level playing field.