Clubs fail to agree the next steps

LEAGUE One clubs will meet again next week after yesterday’s meeting ended without agreement over the future of the season.

With the campaign suspended since March 13 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 23 thirdtier clubs took part in a conference call yesterday morning lasting around three hours as they tried to thrash out a way forward.

Sunderland were part of a group of six clubs – the others being Peterborough United, Oxford United, Fleetwood Town, Ipswich Town and Portsmouth – who have publicly called for the season to be played to a finish when it is safe to do so.

However, there is another group who want the season to be ended early.

Some because they fear the financial impact of playing behind-closed-doors, taking players off furlough and the cost of testing.

Others because cutting short the campaign and deciding the promotion and relegation places via some variation of a point-pergame formula would favour their club.

Yesterday’s meeting ended without a decision on the fate of the season, the clubs instead agreeing to hold more talks on the thorny subject over the weekend and early next week.

Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony released a statement confirming the six teams who have no desire to void the current League One campaign.

MacAnthony’s calls came after Rochdale Chief Executive David Bottomley suggested the league be decided on a points-per-game mechanism.

Southend United chairman Ron Martin called for the season to be declared null and void.