Neil Warnock says that postponing the opening round of Premier League games on Saturday would be a ‘massive blow’, as the matches hang in the balance due to the riots in London this week.

Tottenham’s clash with Everton was called off this morning amid concerns over spectator safety, with an announcement from the Premier League regarding QPR’s scheduled home clash with Bolton Wanderers, and the rest of the top-flight games expected tomorrow.

QPR owner Bernie Ecclestone yesterday insisted the games should go ahead, and, speaking at his pre-match press conference at QPR’s Harlington training ground, Warnock said that although he backs that opinion, the safety of the crowd must come first.

“It would be a major blow, not just to me but to everybody in the country,” said Warnock. “At a time like this I think you have to have an outlet. The Premier League is, without a shadow of a doubt, the best league in the world, not just in the countries it serves but in our country.

“It gives people something to do and to look forward to, and I know our fans have looked forward to it. To let a couple of mindless thugs, opportunists, destroy what we’ve done would be wrong.

“I read this morning Bernie Ecclestone saying it would be totally wrong to put the games off and I’m right behind him. However, you do realise that people’s safety comes first, you have to listen to what the Police authorities finally come up with.

“I’m hoping that they’ll let things go ahead, and if anything I think playing the Premier League on Saturday would help the situation, I think it will out people back to normality.”

Follow Ian Cooper on Twitter @QPRTimes