PLAN TO SAVE EFL

Clubs are warned: play or accept points-per-game ++ Play-offs WILL happen ++ Key votes next week

SPORTSMAIL can today reveal the EFL’s blueprint to finish the season as two crucial votes loom next week.

In a document seen by this newspaper, the EFL lay out their strategy for completing the delayed campaign.

Clubs have until today to provide feedback, which could still delay proceedings. In the communication, it is stated that the EFL season will be completed in one of two ways: by playing the remaining matches, or using an unweighted points-per-game system to determine the final standings.

In the second scenario, promotion and relegation would still apply. Play-offs for the final promotion spot would then take place.

If points per game is used in League One, Wycombe would be the big winners, jumping from eighth to third, with Peterborough — currently in sixth — dropping out of the playoff places.

In League Two, Swindon in second would swap places with leaders Crewe.

Each division’s final outcome is subject to a two-step voting process, with the EFL set to hold both ballots next week.

The first, scheduled for Monday, will see clubs vote on whether to allow the necessary regulation changes for the framework to be applied.

The EFL have indicated that, based on consultation with the 71 Football League clubs, the regulation change is likely to be

approved. All 71 clubs will vote, needing 51 per cent to impose the changes. If the regulation motion passes, the EFL will move on to how each division will finish.

The majority of Championship clubs want to complete the season. Indeed, second-tier clubs are due to return to non-contact training this week with a view to restarting games by the end of next month.

The outcome in League One is the most uncertain, with the document stating ‘no consensus’ on how the season should end. The EFL are therefore not willing to put plans in place for the third tier until after the vote.

In League Two, however, most clubs have indicated they want to end the season now, meaning Crewe, Swindon and Plymouth would be promoted automatically and Stevenage relegated.

Plans are being put in place so the four teams in the play-off places — Exeter, Cheltenham, Colchester and Northampton — can resume training. Sportsmail understands that June 16 and June 23 are earmarked for the two-legged play-off semi-finals, and June 30 for the final.

Completing the play-offs by the start of July is significant because it negates the difficulties of player contracts or loans expiring on the final day of June.

West Bromwich, who sit second in the Championship table, are keen to play and returned to training yesterday.

Slaven Bilic’s team are a point behind leaders Leeds and six clear of Fulham in third, meaning on points per game they would be promoted to the Premier League. But they would prefer to play their remaining matches.

Chief executive Mark Jenkins said: ‘The club is resolutely behind finishing the campaign, if it is at all possible, where it belongs and that is on the pitch.

‘We take comfort this is also the apparent wish of all the governing bodies and the majority of our fellow Championship clubs.’