WINTER RULES

'I'm sure we'd all like a winter break. The only thing stopping it is that nobody wants to give up the number of games they play. There is absolutely no chance of a reduction in the 20-club Premiership and the Worthington Cup has become more vital than ever to the Football League in the light of their problems with ITV Digital. The FA itself won't want to surrender FA Cup replays and the number of international occasions is unlikely to be reduced because the FA needs to finance a new Wembley. There are genuine practical obstacles. I hesitate to say it is a complete non-starter, but I cannot see how it can possibly happen.'