So, the big question....are the EPL just trying to protect their 'brand' (which somewhat ironically will be tainted anyway if they start paying teams their relegation 'bonus' before they're relegated!) or do they have something far more damaging to hide?
Who knows...just speculation on my part.
Btw, if they pay out the parachute payment to Pompey, how will they decide which other two teams to give it to at the same time (something they'd have to do to make it 'fair', surely?). Some sort of glorified pools panel that decides who's most likely to be relegated?