Peterborough manager focusing and planning ahead for next season

Sunderland’s League One promotion rivals Peterborough United are planning ahead for the 2020-21 campaign – and boss Darren Ferguson has hinted at when he thinks it may start.

League One clubs are expected to vote on EFL proposals to either curtail the current season and decide the table on points-per-game or for it to carry on when safe.

If it is curtailed then Posh and Sunderland would both miss out on a play-off spot. Ferguson told the Peterborough Telegraph: “We are ready to play again, but it doesn’t look like things are going to go our way which is a shame as I felt we would get to the top two.

“We’d emerged from a bad spell over Christmas to win seven games of nine and beat some very good sides very convincingly. But if we don’t play again this season then we will be ready for the next one. It is tough to plan as we don’t even know when next season will start and we don’t know what the transfer windows will look like, but we have a plan in place should we still be in League One.

“I’d certainly be positive about next season as I was about this one, but my big doubt is when it will actually start. If we wait too long clubs won’t be able to pay players. I think a lot of clubs have buried their heads in the sand about next season.

“My optimistic mind says we will be back in September, but possibly behind closed doors.”

Meanwhile, Sunderland fans have delivered their verdict on the future of Aiden McGeady. The winger fell out of favour under Phil Parkinson in December before being sent out on loan to Championship side Charlton Athletic.

McGeady has another year on his Sunderland contract and as things stand is due back on Wearside this summer, once the 2019-20 campaign is finally concluded.

We asked supporters whether they would like to see McGeady stay on Wearside next season?

And of the 1,200 that responded to our Twitter poll, 46% of fans wanted to see him return into the first team plans at Sunderland, with 54% in favour of him moving on. All football is currently suspended with EFL clubs set to meet on June 8 to decide a way forward.

McGeady could yet return to action as Championship clubs want to play on but League One clubs are divided over whether to resume or curtail.