Despite struggling in the relegation zone with two wins on the season, former Athletic Bilbao players and executives would rather see the team go down to the second division than change their Basque-only recruitment philosophy.

Athletic have never been relegated in their 120-year history. 

The club recently fired Eduardo Berizzo, replacing him with Gaizka Garitano who was in charge of the B team. 

In regards to the upcoming December election for club president, former Athletic president Jose Julian Lertxundi said "anyone who is a candidate and aspires to change [the Basque-only player mandate]... isn't a candidate. You don't even touch the philosophy".

The Basque region makes up just 4.9% of Spain's population.