Players' union chief Gordon Taylor said today he hoped the first ever strike by English footballers in a dispute over television rights money could be avoided.
The Professional Footballers Association (PFA) called the strike for December 1st after talks with the Premier League broke down yesterday over the union's demand for a five per cent share of a lucrative three-year television deal.
"Our door is open, we have got a lot of time to sort this out. . .we've inched towards some agreement and we'll have to hope that that can come soon," Taylor said today.
The PFA chief executive said the gap separating their demand for Stg£36 million a year from the Premier League's latest offer, which he put at £20 million per year, could easily be filled before the scheduled strike.
"This gap to be bridged now is absolutely loose change to them," Taylor said.
"The total money the football bodies are getting is £2,160 million over three years - the money they've offered us is just that little bit at the end and the gap to be bridged now in relative terms is minor.
"But to us it's a big item, it's a big principle."
The PFA, who represent some of the richest sportsmen in the country such as England captain David Beckham, wants the money for its welfare schemes for disadvantaged players and former footballers
Meanwhile, Scottish Professional Footballers Association secretary Tony Higgins admitted that strike action could happen north of the border but insisted that the eyes of Europe would be focused on the legality of the players' strike in England.