EFL want to ensure Welsh fans can be at play-off ties
TREVOR Birch says the EFL remains hopeful that Welsh fans will be able to return to stadiums for the upcoming play-offs – and says it is committed to ensuring sides in England aren’t handed an unfair advantage of being backed by home fans.
Matches in England are set to welcome back a limited number of supporters from May 17 - the same day as the two opening legs of the Championship play-off semi-finals - as part of plans announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson back in February.
However, despite ongoing discussions between all relevant parties, there is still no clarity on whether fans in Wales will be able to do the same.
Swansea City have, of course, already booked their spot in the top six of the Championship, while Newport County only need a point from their final day clash at Southend United on May 8 to cement their place in the League Two play-offs.
As things stand, neither side would be allowed to welcome fans through their turnstiles for the postseason schedule, despite their English counterparts being free to do so.
It’s a situation which has prompted intense discussions behind the scenes, but the EFL are seemingly confident that a solution can be found.
Swansea are set to be joined by Bournemouth, Brentford and Barnsley in this year’s Championship play-offs, with the semi-finals set to conclude on May 22 ahead of a the final at Wembley six days later.
Morecambe, Tranmere Rovers, Forest Green, Exeter City and Salford City are among the possible opponents for the Exiles, with the opening leg currently pencilled in for May 20, with the return game coming three days later.
The League Two play-off final will be held at Wembley on Bank Holiday Monday, May 31.
EFL chief executive Trevor Birch told the Western Mail that there have already been positive discussions held with the Welsh Government, who sent a delegation to Wembley to see first hand the measures in place for the Carabao Cup final earlier this month.
Birch said: “We are working collectively with the Welsh Government in respect of the potential for supporters to return to Welsh stadia for the EFL play-offs next month and hope that we can agree on an approach that can work in conjunction with the current restrictions in place.
“The league was delighted to host a delegation from the Welsh Government at Wembley last Sunday so they could see first-hand the processes and procedures implemented as part of the Westminster Government’s Events Research Programme.
“The feedback received was very positive and will help inform the position on both sides of the border as we continue to jointly navigate our way through the various challenges.”
The EFL has also moved to ease fears of Swansea or Newport playing against English opposition backed by fans if they cannot welcome supporters to grounds themselves, and accept such a scenario would likely spark questions over the integrity of the competition.
Birch added: “The two-legged play-off matches are hugely significant for both clubs and their supporters and it would be unfair from a sporting integrity perspective to have the support of a crowd at one game and not the other, alongside the financial implications resting on the outcome.