West Ham United officials and players are dead against proposals for the rearranged Manchester City game to take place next week.
The Hammers were due to play City at the Etihad on Sunday afternoon before embarking on the inaugural winter break.
But Storm Ciara put paid to that game.
Photo by Clive Brunskill Getty Images
Report makes claim about fixture rearrangement plan
It means – as things stand – West Ham will have had more than three weeks with no matches by the time they face Liverpool on February 24th.
But according to a report from The Mirror overnight West Ham and Man City could be forced to end their winter break early to fit in the rearranged game on Wednesday February 19.
The Mirror claimed discussions were ongoing and that ‘no consensus has been reached as yet’.
Speaking on Twitter reliable West Ham insider ExWHUemployee claimed the proposed date was being discussed.
But ExWHUemployee says the Hammers are resisting the plans.
Photo by Justin Setterfield Getty Images
Hammers insider says club are ‘not keen’ on proposal
“Apparently it is being discussed but our officials and players etc are not keen as we will get less of a winter break than the other teams,” ExWHUemployee said on Twitter.
Many West Ham fans have been demanding the club stands its ground.
Others feel West Ham will have had a long enough break by February 19th anyway.
And cynics point out West Ham’s players have been on a break for most of the season judging by their performances.
Photo by Arfa Griffiths West Ham United FC via Getty Images
Fans divided over best course of action
Here are a selection of reactions to ExWHUemployee’s comments on the club’s stance.
We’ve been on break all year 😂
— Tyler ⚒ (@TylerChristie14) February 10, 2020
But we never played yesterday, so we have had a good break anyway…
— Forever a Hammer (@SteveSeager1) February 10, 2020
They still went to manchester so hardly a break
— Daniel Coady coyi (@Coady86) February 10, 2020
Then they should tell them to stick it
— Danny Proctor (@DannyProctor13) February 10, 2020
What? We’re gonna already be off for 2 weeks by then….
— Vlad Ginzburg (@vladginzburg) February 10, 2020
Tell them we’ll play on 30th Feb
— Jason ⚒ (@JasonS281) February 10, 2020
‘We were the only team to have an Autuman break’
We been on a winter break since the Oxford game
— Mark heyward (@Markheyward4) February 10, 2020
We were the only team to have an Autumn break
— Peter Jamieson (@PeterJamieson1) February 10, 2020
Rightly so. Would be insanely unfair
— Will Bellew ⚒️ (@W_Bellew) February 10, 2020
Would be ridiculous to agree to this imo
— Richard Bridge (@richardbridge1) February 10, 2020
It was Guadiola who wanted this break, I think we should play it when it’s most convenient for us, bearing in mind they’ll have Stirling back by then
— Geoff ⚒ Lockwood 🏴 🇬🇧 (@geoffl65) February 10, 2020
What’s the point of the winter break if they keep scheduling matches? I’m confused??
— Andy Kemp (@andyjameskemp) February 10, 2020
Surely it’s in West Ham’s interest to play it when City are guaranteed to have nothing to play for in the league, with all attention on the Champions League.
Not sure why they would agree to play it now
— Alan Holohan (@AlanHooly) February 10, 2020