Richards: Set for talks

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Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards has confirmed that the league is pressing ahead with its plans for the '39th game'.

The league confirmed earlier this month that they wanted to add an extra game to the top flight calendar in England. The plan would see all extra games (one each for every team) played abroad in various cities around the globe.

Reaction to the plans were mixed, but the likes of Fifa and the Asian Football Confederation were quick to denounce the scheme.

The Football Association have been lukewarm in their response, which has been unanimously backed by all 20 member clubs of the Premier League who have been enticed by the reputed £5million payment for the one game.

It was believed the plans would have to be shelved, but Richards insists that the Premier League are confident their scheme will get the backing of both the FA and Fifa once they have discussed their proposals in detail with them.

Talks

Richards revealed that talks would commence with both the FA and Fifa in the coming weeks.

"We are going to the FA board meeting on Thursday and will go to Fifa the week after next to explain why we are doing this," Richards told the Daily Express.

"I believe when they see for themselves what it is about, Fifa might just say they have jumped the gun a little bit. They might just listen to us more sympathetically."

Richards feels FA chief Lord Triesman and his Fifa counterpart Sepp Blatter - who has already vented his fury at the plans - will give them a 'fair hearing'.

"I am sure we will be given a fair hearing by the new FA chairman Lord Triesman and I am equally sure Sepp Blatter will have a vastly different view once he has heard from us personally," he said.

Richards admitted that the Premier League could re-work their plans if need be.

"If the 39th games are not acceptable we shall have to devise a formula that is," he said.

"We will not do anything to harm or injure the integrity of our own league."