'There's a willingness for a winter break, we are in talks,' says Premier League chief Scudamore

ByKevin Coulson

Updated 26/07/2016 at 11:30 GMT

Premier League executive chairman Richard Scudamore says there is a “willingness for a winter break” at the organisation and confirmed talks are ongoing.

The 56-year-old added that new England manager Sam Allardyce has been consistent in calling for a rest period in England’s top division and that discussions are ongoing about the subject.

Speaking to Sky Sports News, Scudamore said: “We are not against a winter break, we are on record as saying we are in discussions with the people we need to be in discussions with - the FA and the Football League.

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"Those discussions are taking place. I don’t know how close or near or far we are because I wouldn’t want to compromise those negotiations or discussions.

"There is a willingness to make it happen but I can’t put anything like a timescale on when it might be."

If it was easy it would have been done already.

It comes after FA chief executive Martin Glenn said a winter break is not feasible until the current three-year television rights deal is completed in 2019.

Glenn insisted that though the FA favoured a mid-season break, it would not be possible until the over £5 billion worth TV rights deal, which starts this season, was in effect.

"If we are going to get a winter break, which the FA very much wants, it would be after the current Premier League TV-rights deal is done," Glenn said.

FA chief Executive Martin Glenn, England Manager Sam Allardyce and FA Technical Director Dan Ashworth during the press conference

Image credit: Reuters

"There is a consensus that it would be a good thing to do. I'll say no more than that.

"We can do our bit about fixture congestion and that's why from the quarter-finals (of the FA Cup this season) we're not going to replays."

Glenn also hinted that the timing of the break may be pushed back to January.

"What scared people about winter breaks in the past is the thought of it being between Boxing Day and new year but it doesn't have to be then.

"It can be after the FA Cup third round in mid-January."

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