Why today's Premier League summit is being held via conference call

With top-flight action suspended until April 4 at the earliest, members clubs are set to discuss matters relating to the blanket postponement of fixtures over the telephone rather than in person. Delegates are expected to announce they will prolong the break and attempt to fulfil the 2019/20 programme following those talks, despite calls from some clubs to abandon the campaign altogether.

UEFA's gathering of football stakeholders on Tuesday ended with an outline commitment to completing domestic competitions across Europe by June 30, and the decision to postpone Euro 2020 to the summer of 2021 has given competition organisers like the Premier League greater wriggle room.

It is understood that no decisions will be taken on what would happen in the event of it becoming impossible for the competition to restart, with the focus primarily on how the fixture schedule could be completed.

Match day revenue is still an important consideration even at Premier League level, but far less so than in the English Football League, so clubs are likely to be more open to the idea of playing matches behind closed doors if it is deemed safe to do so over the next month or two.

Chris Wilder, the United manager, has previously voiced his opposition to this idea at PL level, but noted the problems a continued loss of ticket, entertainment and sponsorship monies would have lower down the pyramid.

"Football is nothing without the fans," he said last week. "It's what we do this for. Personally, I'd rather not play at all, although I know this might not be an option for everyone."

Clubs are expected to share their experiences so far of how the pandemic has affected them financially, and the implications of a longer-term suspension of competition.

The league is understood to be in ongoing dialogue with its broadcast partners, whose schedules have been wrecked by the widespread cancellation of sporting events.