THE GROWING clamour for a winter break could be answered by the English Football Association dropping FA Cup replays, according to one idea under consideration that is gaining support from within the game.

The proposal to axe replays is one of a series of radical ideas being considered by an FA committee looking into ways to revitalise the 139-year-old competition, but is being seized upon as the possible solution to the debate over a winter break.

Successive England managers – Sven-Goran Eriksson, Steve McClaren and now Fabio Capello – have called for a winter break in the belief that the debilitating Premier League season leaves players physically and mentally drained by the time major tournaments come around. Before the World Cup Wayne Rooney added his voice to the growing number of players backing the idea.

The Premier League has historically been unwilling to countenance the idea of a winter break, arguing there is no slack in a congested fixture calendar. But it is understood if the FA were to propose dropping replays it would be willing to negotiate.

The decision would have to be voted on by the 20 Premier League clubs, with a two-thirds majority required. If replays were abandoned it would free up a midweek slot that could accommodate a full round of Premier League matches and allow a two-week winter break. Any changes would not be implemented until the 2011-12 season.

Both sides would want reassurance that the break would not simply be filled with more matches. The FA would seek assurances that clubs would not arrange potentially lucrative overseas tours during the break.

There would also be concerns that doing away with replays might impact on the FA’s broadcasting deals and hit smaller clubs who benefit from money-spinning replays against larger rivals.

Premier League clubs, meanwhile, would want binding assurances that the FA would not seek to fill the gap with a lucrative Wembley friendly.

• Guardian Service