Barry Fry insists Posh have been ‘cheated’

Posh - The latest on the forthcoming EFL showdown

Posh director of football Barry Fry didn’t hold back when the EFL decision to award League One promotion and play-off places on an average points-per-game basis if the 2019-20 season is curtailed was announced.

‘We’ve been cheated,” insisted the irrepressible 75-year-old in the knowledge Posh will now miss out on the play-offs if the club’s desire to see the current season carry on is defeated early next week.

“I feel very bitter towards the EFL who have let everything drag on far too long and have now come up with a plan that goes against the integrity of their competition.

“This outcome is completely unfair. It’s a sickener for the club, a real kick in the wotsits.

“Points per game is a nonsense, but if you have to go down that route, at least use a formula that includes home form, away form and which takes into account the teams you still have to play at home and away. We’ve been denied the chance to finish what we started by the EFL who have not been strong enough throughout this trouble and by clubs who don’t want to play football.

“Ifeelforourchairmanand his co-owners who have been superb throughout the crisis.

“Those three sat down in January when we could have sold three players for a combined fee of £12 million, but they wouldn’t because they wanted to win promotion for our fans.

“I also feel for those fans who have supported the club brilliantly this season and continue to support us by buying season tickets for next season even when we didn’t know what division we were in.

“And I feel for Darren Ferguson who has built a great squad and who now does not get to try and guide them to promotion.Wemightnothave gone up, but to even be denied the chance to try is absurd.

“It’s not just our club either. I feel for Tranmere who will be relegated even though they’d won their last three matches to get to within three points, and with a game in hand, of safety. It’s all just so unfair.”

Barry Fry