EFL wants clubs to complete season
BUT THEY’VE RULED OUT EXTENDED PLAY-OFFS
THE EFL has recommended that the season be completed – but has set out its position on how promotion and relegation should be decided if clubs vote against playing on.
In a statement issued following Wednesday’s EFL board meeting, the league has said that if the season is cut short it wants to use unweighted points-per-game to decide the finishing positions, and with it the promotion, relegation, and play-off places.
And it has rejected the call for a compromise in League One whereby the play-offs would be extended to eight clubs to reflect the fact that just a single point separates third-placed Oxford United and eighth-placed Wycombe Wanderers, recommending that the play-offs remain in their usual fourclub format.
Sunderland will take heart from the fact that the EFL has reaffirmed that ‘resuming the 2019/20 season with the existing format remains the most appropriate course of action from a sporting integrity perspective,’ but the concern is that there are a number of clubs in League One that do not want to continue, either because settling the season based on points-pergame suits them, or because they do not want to finish the season behind-closed-doors.
The EFL says a simple majority of clubs in a division must vote in favour in order to curtail the season, which would mean 12 votes would be needed to prevent the League One campaign continuing.
The draft proposals must be voted on by all EFL clubs before they are adopted.
EFL chairman Rick Parry said: “In the event that a divisional decision is made to curtail the 2019/20 season, the EFL board is recommending that the League adopts the original framework with the amendments as identified, as there is a strong desire to remain as faithful as possible to the Regulations and ensure there is consistency in the approach adopted across the EFL in all divisions.
“The Board has always acknowledged that a single solution to satisfy all clubs would always be hard to find, but we are at the point now where strong, definitive action is need for the good of the League and its members.”
The statement reads: “The various proposals and counter proposals received from clubs have been reviewed and, as a result, the board has finalised the draft framework that would be adopted into EFL Regulations, in the event that a division is to make the decision to curtail its season as League Two indicated last Friday. “Clubs are now required to give the matter further consideration, before the board formally proposes the appropriate Regulation changes, which will then be voted on by all clubs.
“The recommended framework is as follows:
“1. Resuming the 2019/20 season with the existing format remains the most appropriate course of action from a sporting integrity perspective, but the board accepts there are circumstances that may lead to curtailment (as has been demonstrated with League Two) or a situation subsequently transpires whereby the season is unable to conclude.
“2. This means that, in the event of an early curtailment: a. Final divisional placings should be determined on unweighted points per game (if required).
“b. Promotion and relegation should be retained.
“c. Play-Offs should be played in all circumstances but should not be extended (beyond four teams).
“3. If a scenario arises whereby the Play-Offs cannot be played, the EFL board will determine the appropriate course of action.
“4. The board considers that the majority required to curtail the 2019/20 season in any division should be 51 percent. Determining whether or not to curtail the season is a decision for each division to take.
“5. The principle of relegation across all three divisions is integral to the integrity of the pyramid, from the Premier League down to the National League, provided we have assurances that the National League will start season 2020/21 (i.e. the relegated Club in League Two has somewhere to play).
“6. Any regulatory solution should be relevant and specific to the current challenges posed by the Covid-19 outbreak and reach a conclusion that is clear and effective with the impact and justifications easy for all stakeholders to understand.”
The Board has always acknowledged that a single solution to satisfy all clubs would always be hard to find