Premiership: English footballers expected to back strike action

English football is set to move a step closer towards strike action today, when the result of a ballot of players is revealed.

The Professional Footballers' Association's ballot is due to close at noon, and more than 90% of their 3,500 members are expected to back industrial action in the dispute over television money.

The Premier League remain hopeful they will be able to agree a compromise with the union next week.

The PFA have held strike ballots twice before in the last 10 years, in 1992 and 1996, and on both occasions received more than 90% backing.

England captain David Beckham has insisted he would follow whatever decision the PFA made.

He said: "I will back what the players are doing. I did vote, but it was a private vote."

If the PFA press ahead with industrial action, they will have to do so within a month of the ballot, having given the clubs a week's notice.

PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor said he was confident the PFA will receive backing for industrial action. Taylor has not had any negotiations with the Premier League over the last week, but will feel in a stronger position with the ballot behind him.

The Premier League will not take any immediate action after the ballot is announced, but if they fail to agree an acceptable deal next week and the PFA press ahead with a strike then they will take out an injunction to prevent the action going ahead. The matter will then go to the High Court where a judge will decide whether such a strike is legitimate.

It is not clear whether a strike would affect specific televised matches or all league games, as all are filmed for television. Taylor insisted suggestions that matches on the weekend of December 8 would be the first affected were "just speculation".

The PFA's last deal was for 5%, and they are seeking the same figure again to fund their welfare and education programmes - around £25m from the Premier League and £6m each from the FA and Football League.

The Premier League originally offered between £8m and £9m, though it is understood the latest offer on the table is for 2.5% of 'disposable TV income' - which would work out at around £10m.