Stevenage dispute ‘integrity’ of plans to relegate on PPG

STEVENAGE chairman Phil Wallace insists there is ‘absolutely no integrity’ in relegating his team from League Two on a points-per-game basis.

Fourth-tier clubs voted to end the campaign earlier this month without clubs being relegated to the National League but the EFL last week insisted demotion must be imposed.

Stevenage are currently bottom, three points behind Macclesfield with a game in hand, but would be relegated under the PPG formula.

Wallace (right) said: ‘There is absolutely no integrity whatsoever in using a mathematical formula to expel a club from the EFL. That is unjust and wholly wrong. As the rules stand, we should play it or void it.

‘We can introduce a rule change for PPG for promotion and play-offs, I have no problem with that but it’s wholly wrong if that artificial formula is used to relegate a club that has a reasonable chance of surviving by playing.’

Wallace added: ‘Since the National League season wasn’t completed in the way it was intended, one option is to leave League Two as it is, with no relegation, and promote one club from the NL this season instead of two, to bring the EFL back to 72 teams, but with 3U3D (three up, three down) in place for next season. No lawsuits, no clubs bankrupted and something created for the National League that appears to be impossible to achieve.’

Feedback from clubs on the framework for curtailment will be reviewed at a board meeting tomorrow. Based on that, the board will work out how it could be written into EFL regulations. An EGM would then be called for clubs to vote.

If it is passed, each division can then hold separate votes on whether to continue playing or to curtail the 2019-20 season based on the agreed framework in place.

It is anticipated the framework vote by clubs could be held as early as next week.