Fry warns EFL chief not to break his promise

Posh - Crucial vote looms large

Posh director of football Barry Fry insists EFL chairman Rick Parry cannot go back on his word and impose decisions made by League Two clubs on to League One clubs.

League Two clubs decided to end their 2019-20 season at the crunch EFL meeting last week and decided final placings would be determined by an unweighted points per game average.

But Fry says it would be a breach of a promise by Parry if League One was made to copy fourth tier clubs.

“Rick Parry said that he would let all three EFL divisions, the Championship, League One and League Two, independently determine how to end the season.

“My fear now is that the EFL will recommend we follow what League Two has done. I know the EFL want to promote Coventry and Rotherham (the current top two) and then have play-offs. I can just about see why Coventry would be allowed to go up, but promoting Rotherham would be wrong.

“They are only two points ahead of two teams and three points ahead of four other teams. Ourselves and Oxford have a better goal difference. Rotherham might go on and finish second if we played the season out, but equally they might finish eighth.

“Obviously a weighted points per game suits us better if we can’t play on. It’s also a lot fairer than a straight pointsper-game formula.

“You have to take into account the fixtures everyone has left. We like our run-in, while Wycombe have six away games left, Sunderland have five and Doncaster have seven of their final 10 matches away from home.

“One thing for sure is we won’t vote to try and scrap relegation like League Two clubs have. There is no sporting merit in that at all.

“There is also no chance of the season being declared null and void.

“More than anything we would still rather the season continued when it is safe to do so. That is the only really fair way to proceed”.

League Two clubs’ decision not to relegate anyonethis season is expected to be overturned by the EFL and the FA.

The EFL board was due • to meet yesterday (Wednesday) with clubs expected to vote on their proposals within 48 hours.

Barry Fry