There was no immediate comment from the Premier League although a news conference with chief executive Richard Scudamore concerning a 'significant announcement' was scheduled to start at 4 p.m..

The BBC said all 20 clubs had agreed at a meeting in London [Images] to explore a proposal to extend the season to 39 games each, with the 10 extra fixtures to be played at venues around the world.

It said the changes, with any decision unlikely before the Premier League's annual summer meeting in June, could come into effect from the 2010/11 season with points from the extra games counting towards the final league table.

(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Tony Jimenez)