Premier League told: Finish season in Perth!

It remains to be seen if Wembley is selected as one of the Premier League's nominated stadiums if and when matches restart, but the London venue will be considered.

West Ham vice chair Karren Brady said "no one wants" neutral stadiums but was not as direct in her opposition to the league's "Project Restart" plan, given the need for authorities to approve venues.

Brighton chief executive Paul Barber has publicly expressed his concerns over the weekend, saying that playing at neutral grounds has the "potential to have a material effect on the integrity of the competition", the 15th-placed Seagulls scheduled to play home fixtures against Watford and Aston Villa - two sides now below them in the table - during their final nine games of the season.

Bottom side City are joined in the bottom three by Aston Villa and Bournemouth as things stand, six points from safety, with Villa having a game in hand in a tight battle for survival.

Brighton and Hove Albion have become the first Premier League club to publicly oppose plans to restart the season in neutral stadiums.

Watford and West Ham are only above the relegation zone on goal difference and Brighton are just two points clear, followed by a five-point gap to Southampton in 14th.

Some top-flight clubs, including West Ham, Arsenal and Tottenham, have reopened their training facilities under strict conditions, while others remain shut due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"Brighton's Amex Stadium, West Ham's London Stadium, the Etihad Stadium, St Mary's and the King Power Stadium have all been mooted given their specific locations outside of city centres".

"I understand the public is desperate to get football back, but it is us that are going to be going out there and competing against other teams", Murray said. "It is a really hard situation to agree on".

Premier League clubs confirmed on Friday their target date for training to resume is May 18, with the first set of Premier League fixtures scheduled for June 12.

"At yesterday's meeting every club said it wants the season to restart", Brady told The Sun newspaper. Players and managers have to be key decision-makers on the protocols as there is a long way to go from where we are now to actually getting playing again. Phase two would be a return to group training, phase three is the restart of games and the final phase would see a return to worldwide matches. "There are a lot of obstacles to overcome and no doubt many compromises to make".

Liverpool held a whopping 25 point lead in the English Premier League with nine games to play before Covid-19 halted play.