Halifax Courier

Do the honest thing, says Wild as decision over play-offs looms

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“We have to vote on whether we want play-offs or not and then we have to send a proposal of how we feel that should be played out.

“The vote for play-offs or no play-offs is for the clubs, and then if there are play-offs, it needs to be decided when and how.

“I think there’s two possibilit­ies. One is that Barrow go up, one team come down, but there is a motion from the top seven to get a conclusion to the season.

“For me, I’d get us all down to St George’s Park and thrash it out over two weekends, that’s the easiest way.

“If there’s no fans going to be there we don’t need the stadiums.”

Wild has called on the rest of the league to preserve the integrity of the competitio­n by backing the play-offs going ahead.

“I think you’ve got to do the honest thing,” he said. “Alright, the season might not have gone their way but it’s gone other peoples’ ways.

“Certainly if we were in that position, the one thing we wouldn’t do is deny people the opportunit­y to finish off excellent seasons they’ve had. “For the integrity of the game and the spirit of football, we all should be given the opportunit­y to finish the season because we’ve worked so hard to get into this position.”

When asked how he would feel if the play-offs were cancelled, Wild said: “I’d be very disappoint­ed. Very, very disappoint­ed.

“Like I’ve said on numerous occasions, the two biggest jumps in football are National League to League Two and Championsh­ip to Premier League, and to be denied that opportunit­y, well, clubs, owners and fans have fought all their lives for that. Look at Harrogate Town, they’ve never been in the Football League, their opportunit­y could come, so could our opportunit­y to get back into the league after all these years.

“To be denied the opportunit­y to even play for that, having had such a good season, I think would be very disappoint­ing.”

Wild believes a points-pergame ratio should be used to decide who would feature in the play-offs, and doesn’t expect them to be played until June if they go ahead.

Wild also said he will discuss the issue of players’ contracts with his squad this week, with deals due to expire before any potential return to action

“When asked about the possibilit­y of bringing any new players into the club before any play-off games, Wild said: “I think it’ll depend on timeframes of when the play-offs are played.”

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