EFL set to call time on Yorkshire trio
BRADFORD CITY, Doncaster Rovers and Rotherham United are set to end their season on Friday as the Premier League appears to have overcome a major obstacle in resuming its 2019-20 campaign.
Leagues One and Two have scheduled a video-conference for Friday, where a decision on aborting the season is expected. Given that playing behind closed doors would worsen the clubs’ financial worries it would be a surprise if they did not accept defeat in their efforts to continue.
The debate would then shift to whether the season would be declared null and void, or more likely how promotion and relegation should be decided.
Rotherham were second in League One when coronavirus brought the programme to a standstill in early March, and would remain in the second automatic promotion spot if points per game decided the standings. Doncaster, like League Two Bradford, would fall short of the playoffs.
Promotion and relegation could have implications for the divisions either side. Barnsley are bottom of the Championship, and Hull City, Middlesbrough and Huddersfield Town within three points of the relegation zone. Leeds United are top.
In the Conference, Harrogate Town are second, which will be a play-off position if they take place, but could conceivably become an automatic promotion spot if not.
The economics are very different in the Premier League and whilst it still has considerable difficulties to overcome, it seems to have persuaded the Government to allow fixtures at the intended venues, subject to police approval.
Having only last week said that, “Some people in football need to get a grip and recognise there’s a bigger picture” when asked about opposition to neutral venues, South Yorkshire police’s deputy chief constable Mark Roberts, the UK’s national football policing lead, struck a markedly more conciliatory tone yesterday.
“Following a positive meeting between police, Government and football (on Monday) night, we will be jointly exploring a range of options to identify a way forward, which minimises any risks to public safety and unnecessary pressure on public services, but facilitates a sensible restart to the season, to support the economic and morale benefits associated with the sport,” he said.
Opposition to neutral venues was understood to be growing in the Premier League, where not playing is the most expensive option because of its multi-billion pound television deals.
An estimated £762m-worth of games from this season’s broadcast contracts are still to be played, and the fear is some or all of the worldwide companies owed matches could ask for a rebate. Even if they go ahead, it has been suggested around £300m to £350m could be demanded because they will not be delivered at the times and in the format promised.
Of the 10 league matches Sheffield United still have to play, four were due to be at home, to Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton, all rivals for European qualification. They were also drawn at home to Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
The Blades are seventh in the Premier League, but sixth in a points-per-game table or one which weights home and away results. The top six qualify for the Europa League, and seventh would were the FA Cup winners to finish higher, or if Manchester City were barred from next season’s European competitions. They have been served a two-year ban, but are expected to appeal.
A number of police forces are now said to be comfortable with staging matches provided clubs draft in and pay for sufficient stewards to ensure social distancing guidelines are not broken.
However, earlier in the day a spokesperson for London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “With the country still in the grips of this crisis, and hundreds of people dying every day, he believes it is too early to be discussing the resumption of the Premier League and top-flight sport in the capital.”
The Premier League will also have to overcome reservations from players, with Doncasterborn defender Danny Rose, on loan at Newcastle United, saying on Instagram on Monday football could not return while “people’s lives are at risk”. Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero are amongst those who have joined the former Leeds player in publicly expressing discomfort.
With time of the essence, the Premier League is pushing ahead with preparations despite no decisions having been made. Wolves this week became the first club tested for coronavirus under Premier League procedures with more than 10 backroom staff swabbed at a drive-through station at their training ground.
UEFA has set a May 25 deadline for leagues to present plans and timetables for a resumption, although such is the popularity and wealth of the Premier League, Europe’s governing body may be prepared to grant more time.
Not playing is the most expensive option for the Premier League.
Stuart Rayner, on the financial challenge facing English football’s top-flight.