Neville: Leagues One and Two won’t restart season

SALFORD City co-owner Gary Neville believes it’s ‘extremely unlikely’ League One and League Two football will continue this season.

A report from The Athletic claimed the EFL are preparing to tell clubs including Salford, Oldham, Rochdale and Bolton – the current campaign will not be continued, with a vote by the clubs on a method to decide promotion and relegation.

And Neville says he can’t see any options to finish the current season below the Championship.

“I said a few weeks ago I think it’s extremely unlikely League One and League Two will play football,” he said.

“We know the Bundesliga and the measures they’re putting in place to allow football to happen. It’s going to cost a lot of money. And the same with the Premier League.

“We’re talking millions of pounds to invest in what would be health and safety protocols, neutral venues, all the logistics, the hotel costs of keeping club people and players in as safe environments as possible will be huge costs to the Bundesliga and the Premier League. And League One and League Two can’t fund that. The clubs won’t fund that.

“You’ve obviously got added complexities that 50 per cent of players in League One and League Two are out of contract in two months and ultimately clubs don’t want to pay them beyond those contracts so there will be no extensions available. I think also there’s just a lack of willingness at League One and League Two levels to go through all the economic risks.”