Premier League throws out fourth-place play-off plan

The Premier League has ditched the idea of a fourth place play-off to decide who gets the final Champions League spot. The controversial plan had been mooted last month at a meeting of the Premier League chairmen, and it quickly generated a lot of fierce debate within football's top flight.

The idea involved automatic qualification to the Champions League for only the top three teams with the remaining spot then being contested in a series of play-off matches by the four sides finishing fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh.

The so-called "Big Four" – Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool – were reported to be dead set against the idea, while other clubs were not surprisingly more receptive, with Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill describing the proposal as "interesting". But any tinkering with the current structure would have required the support of at least 14 of the Premier league's 20 clubs, but even then the new format would not have been feasible until 2013 and the end of the existing television deal.

The motion was formally quashed yesterday with the Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore claiming the idea had not won the requisite backing of the clubs' chairmen. Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, he said: "We gave a lot of discussion, a lot of detail, a lot of data. But there was not enough support to take the idea forward, so we won't be discussing that proposal any further."

Later reports suggested however that it had been a close run thing with nine clubs voting against the proposal and eleven in favour, just three short of the required number. In the end it appeared fixture congestion was the overriding factor in scuppering the idea. West Ham chairman David Gold told reporters: "It was just a physical thing, finding time in the calendar. We certainly looked at it and the board looked at it but said physically we just can't do it. The clubs that would be involved in a play-off could also be involved in the FA Cup and Champions League, so it just could not be done. They tried but it could not be done."

The news came as a relief to those who believe in the old adage 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it', with many pointing out that the system as it stands is creating a thrilling fight for the coveted fourth place this season. With only four points separating fourth place Spurs and seventh place Aston Villa, the tussle for fourth between that pair and Manchester City and Eveton will produce excitement enough without the need for a convoluted play-off. ·