The Premier League faces the embarrassing prospect of being told to rethink its controversial “international round” plans at an FA board meeting today, with David Gill, the Manchester United chief executive, preparing to inflict another blow to the proposal by adding his influential voice to the clamour objecting to it.

Gill has yet to air his thoughts on the proposal in public, but he is expected to tell his fellow FA board members that he and his club are opposed to the plan to stage a 39th round of fixtures in cities all over the world.

As one of three Premier League representatives on the 12-man board – along with Phil Gartside, the Bolton Wanderers chairman, and Sir Dave Richards, the league’s chairman – and as chief executive of the world’s second-richest club, Gill might have been expected to support the proposal, but it is understood that he shares the misgivings expressed by Lord Triesman, the FA’s new independent chairman, last Friday.

With other board members preparing to voice their concerns, Richards is likely to be told that the Premier League will have to rethink its plans if it is to have any hope of winning the FA’s support or blessing.

Richard Scudamore, the Premier League chief executive, has at times appeared indifferent to the numerous objections to the proposals, but he admitted on Tuesday that “the FA and the Football League will have to be comfortable with whatever move and direction we take” if the plan is to proceed.