Pompey v Salford final to go ahead as planned

POMPEY’s rearranged 2020 Papa John’s Trophy final encounter with Salford City at Wembley will go ahead as planned on Saturday, March 13.

Meanwhile, the EFL has confirmed that the 2021 Tranmere v Sunderland finale – scheduled to take place just 24 hours later – will also take place as previously scheduled.

That’s despite a formal request made by Rovers to play their game against the Black Cats at a later date.

Tranmere contacted the league following details of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown, with May 17 identified as the date in which spectators would be allowed back into stadia, albeit at reduced capacities.

That’s two months after the ‘EFL Weekender’ which will be played behind closed doors.

A league spokesperson confirmed discussions took place with all clubs involved in the double-header.

Those talks included ‘splitting the two finals, changing the future fixture schedule, or moving the fixture(s) away from Wembley’. But logistical, financial and operation challenges meant the request for a change in dates was not viable.

The EFL said: ‘After full and comprehensive consultation with all relevant stakeholders, including the three other clubs involved in the Wembley Weekender fixtures, it has been determined that the

Papa John’s Trophy Final fixture(s) will remain as scheduled.

‘Detailed discussions took place on a number of potential alternatives, including splitting the two finals, changing the future fixture schedule, or moving the fixture(s) away from Wembley Stadium.

‘However, the logistical, operational and financial challenges meant that on balance those were not viable solutions.’