'Have to handle this' - Premier League 'opened door' on postponements says Ralph

The Austrian has been vocal in press about his opinions that there should be more transparency regarding squad availability with COVID postponements shaking up the entire schedule.

Neither clubs nor supporters know what the situation is with COVID cases in a squad, but only that a team needs less than 13 outfield players and a goalkeeper to be able to successfully request a postponement.

Burnley at home to Leicester, scheduled for Saturday, January 15, is the latest match to fall after a request from the Clarets was accepted by the Premier League.

That decision comes just days after Sean Dyche’s side lost their star striker, Chris Wood, in a reported £25million transfer to relegation rivals Newcastle.

Burnley lost goals man Chris Wood to rivals Newcastle this week (Pic: PA)

“Yeah, I think they see, you know, that they open the door and you cannot be surprised that somebody is walking through now,” Hasenhuttl said, when asked again about the lack of transparency.

“I mean, I think we did speak about that as, again, I cannot say anything about the situation there about the COVID situation, because this is normally the reason why you cancel games.

“We have no view in it, we have no transparency and we cannot say anything about that. And the rest, everything is speculation.”

He continued: “They (Burnley) lost their striker (Wood), I don't know. Everything is speculation, but the Premier League has to handle this.”

Hasenhuttl has recently suggested that the Premier League should not allow players who were signed by a club to register for matches that have been postponed, from an initial date before their transfer.

Ralph Hasenhuttl revealed that the Premier League had discussed the idea in a meeting with clubs (Pic: Stuart Martin)

This idea would be to ensure that there is no unfair advantage gained by teams playing players who would not have been there if the game had not been postponed.

Hasenhuttl conceded that without this rule, transfers may also eventually benefit Saints under new ownership Sport Republic.

“This is why I say it - new signings shouldn't be allowed to play in cancelled games when they have not been there before the game was supposed to be played,” Hasenhuttl repeated.

“But anyway, I mean, this is a problem they have now and it's hard to solve it in that moment.”

Saints have what will be a fiery a clash with Newcastle to rearrange, after their St Mary’s contest in the New Year’s round of fixtures was rearranged at the request of Magpies.