The FA are reportedly ready to bring a winter break into the English game, with England manager Sven Goran Eriksson believed to have been a key figure in the decision.
The concept of a winter break has long been bandied around by many in the game - who blame the lengthy season as a key reason behind player injuries and poor form.

Eriksson has gone as far as to suggest that the national team noticeably suffers in the summer's key tournaments because so many England players are worn out from the domestic season.

After meeting with the FA Council, the Swede is confident a winter break is on its way. "I've been to many meetings about this," he said.

"Today, it was the FA Council and they were very supportive. I hope it will come through and I'm pretty sure it will because it's agreed on; not only by me, it's agreed on by the players, all the managers in the Premier League, all the chairman in the Premier League support it.

"So I can't see any reason why we won't have it."

Many other senior figures in the game would welcome a winter break, including Arsenal's Arsene Wenger, who has been a long term critic of the fixture pile-up around Christmas.

Virtually every other league in Europe has a two week break to allow players to relax and come back refreshed for the second half of the season.

The only backlash is likely to come from the fans - with many believing that the traditional Boxing Day fixture provides one of the most enjoyable matches of the campaign.