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Five substitutes will be allowed during normal time for games to be played when the Barclays Premier League restarts on the June 17th of June, the decision was confirmed at the latest league meeting of stake holders. The 20 member clubs met on Thursday to discuss a range of measures building towards the planned return to action later this month.

Having brought new ideas and cutting edge technology to their platform during their first forray in to broadcasting Barclays Premier League football, Amazon via Amazon Prime will make it's four Premier League games free to air when the season restarts. Surprisingly fans will not need a Prime membership to watch fixtures on the online streaming service when the top flight campaign resumes from the 17th of June, it is a sign of confidence from Amazon, as they feel that 'one off' viewers will want to join Amazon Prime as a result of watching the seamless delivery of games.

In a quite shameless attempt at 'nudging' season ticket holders towards NOT seeking refunds, the Hammers hierarchy via their 'unofficial' web portal have championed the benefit of leaving the monies due as refunds with the club to 'help it through the bad times'.

West Ham United season ticket holders have finally been given the 'options' with regards to what can happen to their remaining tickets for matches that they will be unable to attend. We say options but actually the first option has been taken for fans, by the club! ST holders will by now have received an e-mail setting out the club's refund policy, and it isn't quite as straight forward as fans have been led to believe. Here is an example, the details of which are a confusing to say the least and most definitely ambiguous.

Contrary to reports in some of the tabloids, the Barclays Premier League have NOT yet decided to use generic sound from FIFA console games for 'live' broadcasts, the option is under consideration but there are other options being explored. The idea of 'piped' crowd noise doesn't really appeal to the majority of stakeholders, however one idea doing the rounds is for teams to have their songs played during the games.

Now that the Barclays Premier League's much touted 'Project Restart' has been agreed, the situation has more questions than answers when it comes to the practicality of hosting games and the further far reaching consequences of playing them behind closed doors.

Even before the unique situation the Barclays Premier League finds itself in, Hammers manager David Moyes had been quoted as saying it was his intention to bring the average age of his squad down 'substantially', and for that purpose the search begins at home. Lacking the funds that were lavished on his predecessor Manuel Pellegrini, Moyes has either to look out for 'bargains' or promote from within, the latter being the preferred option.

Who'd have 'thunk' it, the much maligned London Stadium may well become the visual template for behind closed door matches being played to complete the 2019-2020 Barclays Premier League season, with a requisite for venues to be away from densely populated areas but with ample provision for public access. Brighton – Amex Stadium. Southampton – St Mary's Stadium. Leicester – King Power Stadium. Aston Villa – Villa Park. Manchester United – Old Trafford.

The long term financial implications for the Barclays Premier League due to the Covid-19 pandemic are almost impossible to assess, because as yet no one knows when or even if an innoculation against this dreadful disease will be available, without which there will be NO supporters at football matches for some considerable time, many months, possibly years!

There’s been a lot of speculation over the last year or so about Declan Rice moving on to pastures new, and those rumours have gathered pace in the last couple of weeks in the tabloids and on social media. £70m is the fee being touted. Is it enough? And if he does go, where does that leave West Ham and their midfield?