Man United and Newcastle refusing to compromise over Dan Ashworth… plus how the Premier League could end up with SIX teams in the Champions League next season – AHEAD OF THE GAME

The Premier League’s sixth-placed team will qualify for the Champions League places for the first time next season if West Ham finish fifth and win the Europa League.

The progress of Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool and West Ham to the quarter-finals of this season’s European competitions means that the Premier League will receive one of two additional Champions League places awarded to countries with the top UEFA rankings, with fifth place. placed qualifying position transfers to the sixth team in the Premier League if the same club also qualifies by winning a UEFA trophy.

Although the gap to fifth place is currently eleven points, West Ham seems more likely to finish in that position than title chasers Arsenal, City and Liverpool.

However, the Premier League would not gain an extra Champions League place if a club finishing in the top four also won a trophy, in which case that place would be awarded to another country.

Arsenal are also in the last eight and there could be as many as six English clubs in the Champions League next season

FA approval process under scrutiny after England kit debacle

The FA’s review of the approval process behind England’s controversial new Nike kit has already found that checks and balances were tighter at Wembley under previous regimes.

Mail Sport revealed last week that the reworked St George’s Cross on England’s new home shirt had been signed off in a streamlined process by former FA commercial director Nav Singh, while in previous years such decisions have involved the FA’s entire senior leadership team .

Mail Sport has been told that between 2010 and 2015 the process involved placing all new shirts on mannequins in the Wembley Boardroom in front of a viewing party including the England men’s manager, the under-21s manager, the FA technical director, the ladies manager, the chief operations officer, commercial director and chairman of the FA.

All key figures had also been consulted before the final viewing.

England’s new kit caused controversy due to the reworked St George’s Cross, and it has now emerged that stricter checks previously took place before kits were signed off

Man United and Newcastle in stalemate over Ashworth

Manchester United and Newcastle are refusing to compromise in the Dan Ashworth standoff, with both clubs making plans for a summer transfer window without a sporting director appointed.

Newcastle are content to let head of recruitment Steve Nixon mastermind their summer transfer plans after sending Ashworth on gardening leave, while United are adamant they will not meet demands for £20million in compensation, with incoming CEO Omar Berrada is expected to take charge of the negotiations. the meantime.

Man United want Dan Ashworth (pictured) as their next sporting director but are yet to agree a compensation deal with Newcastle

Possible conflicts of interest at the PFA

The PFA is facing more accusations of overlooking potential conflicts of interest as board member Ebru Koksal also works as an adviser to Mercury/13, an investment fund that has pledged to spend £85m on buying women’s football clubs.

The American-based company bought a controlling stake in Serie club Como Women earlier this month and held discussions about the takeover of Championship club FC Lewes. Koksal’s role at Mercury/13 has raised eyebrows given her position as an independent non-executive director at the players’ union.

PFA chief executive Maheta Molango faced similar questions over a potential conflict of interest when he accepted a position on the board of Italian club Sampdoria earlier this month.

PFA board member Ebru Koksal (photo) also works as an advisor for Mercury/13