| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places 07:49 - May 8 with 27262 views | isitme |
The English Football League will next week tell clubs in Leagues One and Two there is no chance of playing any more games this season and ask them to vote on a method to decide promotion and relegation.
EFL chairman Rick Parry told MPs on the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee on Wednesday morning that a resolution to the season in the third and fourth tiers was only a matter of days away and it now seems a decision could come as early as Monday or Tuesday.
The Athletic understands the EFL board has already received several proposals from clubs, with the current favourite being a points-per-game (PPG) model weighted to reflect how many games the teams have played home and away.
The rationale for this idea is a non-weighted PPG calculation does not take into account the fact that some teams have four home games left, while others have six.
This season across the Football League, the home team has won 46 per cent of the time, with away teams winning only 26 per cent of the games. Over the last six EFL seasons, the average PPG at home is 1.55, compared to 1.19 away.
Under this method, which has been used to decide the tables in English grassroots club rugby union, each club’s PPG would be worked out for their home and away fixtures, then multiplied by 22 for League One, which had 23 clubs this season because of Bury’s demise last summer, and 23 for League Two and then added together to reach a total for the season.
The Athletic understands that a League One club has prepared a detailed explanation of this method, with a full set of final tables, and emailed it to the EFL board.
With the EFL admitting there is no chance of staging its traditional end-of-season play-offs in Leagues One and Two, the top three sides in the League One will be promoted to the Championship, with three going down to League Two, while four come up from League Two and only one goes down, to restore the EFL to its full quota of 72 teams.
The weighted PPG method does not change the top three in League One at all, meaning Coventry City would be crowned champions, with Rotherham United and Oxford United joining them in the Championship next season. The current bottom three – Tranmere Rovers, Southend United and Bolton Wanderers – would still be the bottom three, although Bolton would climb one spot, leaving Southend in last place.
In League Two, Swindon Town would leapfrog Crewe Alexandra into first place, with Plymouth Argyle staying in third but Cheltenham Town climbing over Exeter City to claim the final promotion spot. Stevenage Borough would remain in last place, despite the seven-point deduction Macclesfield Town received on Thursday for failing to fulfill a fixture or pay their players on time.
The Athletic has spoken to two other EFL clubs who said they were aware of this proposal and several others who said they were not, but every club approached said they knew of at least half a dozen different ideas that were circulating around the league. These include using the current tables to settle the finishing positions, a non-weighted PPG model and an idea to only count the first half of the season, which would be the first 22 games in League One and 23 games in League Two.
Some clubs have discussed using more complicated statistical models that factor in how hard each club’s run-in was before the season was suspended in March. There is considerable opposition to these models, though, with one club dismissing them as “hypothetical and unfair”.
The prospect of declaring the season “null and void” appears to have receded, as most clubs acknowledge this would be very unfair on the teams that have got themselves into the promotion place. It would also come with financial and legal risks.
However, any club faced with relegation is almost certainly going to object to being demoted on the basis of PPG, weighted or otherwise. This has led to some clubs suggesting either two or three clubs are promoted this season, with none relegated. Five teams would then be relegated from the divisions above next season, in order to reset them.
But this idea will face strong opposition from the English game’s bosses as it will lead to fixture congestion next season, complicate the distribution of central income and break the terms of the tripartite agreement the EFL, FA and Premier League signed when the top flight broke away from the EFL in 1992.
As things stand, however, both the Premier League and Championship are determined to finish this season’s fixtures in neutral stadiums behind closed doors, which would mean all these issues would be settled on the pitch in the top two divisions. |  | | |  |
| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places on 14:52 - May 18 with 3678 views | KenBoon |
"There were varied views shared in League One and it was determined that there would be a further period of reflection and consultation to understand what creative solutions could be implemented. It was acknowledged that the need to find innovative and creative solutions was of paramount importance as was the need for decisions to be taken quickly."
Innovative and Creative solutions? There's three options. Continue. Void. PPG.
This combined with our CEO's statement "...we have also earned the right to be part of group debates and planning at the same level..." Sounds like the big clubs have got a louder voice here. Relegation doesn't concern me because I fear it is inevitable in the short term. What concerns me is the financial ruin of clubs like ours just so bigger or richer clubs can complete a single season. |  | | |
| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places on 14:21 - May 21 with 3016 views | isitme |
Another update
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52758193
It appears that, quite rightly promotion and relegation will happen and that points per game would be used to determine league positions. No increase in the number of teams who qualify for the play offs. | | | |
| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places on 14:30 - May 21 with 2988 views | Dalenet |
| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places on 14:21 - May 21 by isitme |
Another update
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52758193
It appears that, quite rightly promotion and relegation will happen and that points per game would be used to determine league positions. No increase in the number of teams who qualify for the play offs. |
Doesn't appear to have resolved the Bury position. There was always scope to allow all the current sides in the Football league to remain and still allow Barrow to come up. Now looks like there will need to be a play-off for a second National League promotion place given they have implied that Stevenage will be relegated. Or have I misunderstood? |  | | |
| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places on 14:32 - May 21 with 2977 views | Shun |
As difficult as it is to be completely objective when everyone’s invested in the fortunes of one football club, this option has to be seen as the most fair one across the board.
That League One only now needs 12 votes means the Sinister Six will presumably get outvoted. |  | | |
| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places on 14:44 - May 21 with 2943 views | isitme |
| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places on 14:32 - May 21 by Shun |
As difficult as it is to be completely objective when everyone’s invested in the fortunes of one football club, this option has to be seen as the most fair one across the board.
That League One only now needs 12 votes means the Sinister Six will presumably get outvoted. |
Hopefully! | | | |
| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places on 14:52 - May 21 with 2913 views | dawlishdale |
Most probably the least bad solution out of them all...certainly more preferable to continuing the season when the vast majority can see the risks and costs involved.
It benefits us, as one of the teams who could have become involved in relegation, and I genuinely feel sorry for Tranmere, who, following a long injury list earlier in the season had started to show some good form.
I'm so glad that Peterborough's horrible owner won't be able to force the hands of other teams to his own ends. Hopefully, next season (if there is one) will have a workable salary cap in place with large points punishments dished out for teams who try to dodge the rules. | | | |
| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places on 16:40 - May 21 with 2802 views | Thacks_Rabbits |
| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places on 14:52 - May 21 by dawlishdale |
Most probably the least bad solution out of them all...certainly more preferable to continuing the season when the vast majority can see the risks and costs involved.
It benefits us, as one of the teams who could have become involved in relegation, and I genuinely feel sorry for Tranmere, who, following a long injury list earlier in the season had started to show some good form.
I'm so glad that Peterborough's horrible owner won't be able to force the hands of other teams to his own ends. Hopefully, next season (if there is one) will have a workable salary cap in place with large points punishments dished out for teams who try to dodge the rules. |
That bellend Adrian Durham just been on talksport moaning about efl being incompetent and a joke, also that he has insider information that Wimbledon, MK and us have been saying for ages we wanted the season ended points per game and could not afford to finish the season.
He was also moaning about clubs voting out of self interest, hypocrisy of the highest order after McAnthony bleating for ages, along with the clubs who see they have something to play for.
Hopefully as said above, the wage cap comes in and Peterborough realise that by the time they have paid Tony, Eisa and Smodiczs all their wages have gone.
Dislike everything about Peterborough so anything that harms them is fine with me! |  |
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| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places on 17:21 - May 21 with 2719 views | blackdogblue |
| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places on 16:40 - May 21 by Thacks_Rabbits |
That bellend Adrian Durham just been on talksport moaning about efl being incompetent and a joke, also that he has insider information that Wimbledon, MK and us have been saying for ages we wanted the season ended points per game and could not afford to finish the season.
He was also moaning about clubs voting out of self interest, hypocrisy of the highest order after McAnthony bleating for ages, along with the clubs who see they have something to play for.
Hopefully as said above, the wage cap comes in and Peterborough realise that by the time they have paid Tony, Eisa and Smodiczs all their wages have gone.
Dislike everything about Peterborough so anything that harms them is fine with me! |
Do Radio Bolton sorry Manchester cover League 2 games?? 😀😀😀 |  |
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| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places on 17:24 - May 21 with 2713 views | ColDale |
| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places on 16:40 - May 21 by Thacks_Rabbits |
That bellend Adrian Durham just been on talksport moaning about efl being incompetent and a joke, also that he has insider information that Wimbledon, MK and us have been saying for ages we wanted the season ended points per game and could not afford to finish the season.
He was also moaning about clubs voting out of self interest, hypocrisy of the highest order after McAnthony bleating for ages, along with the clubs who see they have something to play for.
Hopefully as said above, the wage cap comes in and Peterborough realise that by the time they have paid Tony, Eisa and Smodiczs all their wages have gone.
Dislike everything about Peterborough so anything that harms them is fine with me! |
that's us paying £31 to sit in the worst stand in League One next season |  | | |
| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places on 17:38 - May 21 with 2676 views | MoonyDale |
| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places on 17:24 - May 21 by ColDale |
that's us paying £31 to sit in the worst stand in League One next season |
Or we could just spend that £30 quid in the club shop and give that game a miss, just a thought...  |  |
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| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places on 17:39 - May 21 with 2668 views | foreverhopefulDale |
| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places on 17:38 - May 21 by MoonyDale |
Or we could just spend that £30 quid in the club shop and give that game a miss, just a thought... |
Good thinking. |  |
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| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places on 17:53 - May 21 with 2625 views | Thacks_Rabbits |
| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places on 17:24 - May 21 by ColDale |
that's us paying £31 to sit in the worst stand in League One next season |
Admire your optimism Col, would probably not go there if it was free, dump of a stand, and with virus can’t see crowds before next year at least.
Durham back on about it now and named us again, saying all self interest, in fairness, Gough and the Moose stuck up for us and what other option is there.
Durham/McAnthony just bitter that his side full of star well paid stars can look forward to another season in L1. | |
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| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places on 18:26 - May 21 with 2556 views | Plattyswrinklynuts |
| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places on 17:53 - May 21 by Thacks_Rabbits |
Admire your optimism Col, would probably not go there if it was free, dump of a stand, and with virus can’t see crowds before next year at least.
Durham back on about it now and named us again, saying all self interest, in fairness, Gough and the Moose stuck up for us and what other option is there.
Durham/McAnthony just bitter that his side full of star well paid stars can look forward to another season in L1. |
The same McAnthony who was threatening legal action before any proposals to end the league had even been put forward!! Bully who has got exactly what he deserves. |  | | |
| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places on 18:32 - May 21 with 2538 views | davidab2202 |
I'm sure that in the present unprecedented situation every club will wish to vote in a way that is most beneficial to their own position. Sure that Bolton and Southend would have been hoping that a resolution was passed for there to be no relegation if no further games are played.As a previous poster has stated Tranmere on the form from the last few games would have been hopeful of an escape.
Playing play-off matches will very much be a lottery after such a long time since any team has played. Would have thought the easiest solution would have been to promote the next team outside the automatic places in each league involved as a one off for this season. | | | |
| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places on 18:50 - May 21 with 2491 views | fermin |
| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places on 17:53 - May 21 by Thacks_Rabbits |
Admire your optimism Col, would probably not go there if it was free, dump of a stand, and with virus can’t see crowds before next year at least.
Durham back on about it now and named us again, saying all self interest, in fairness, Gough and the Moose stuck up for us and what other option is there.
Durham/McAnthony just bitter that his side full of star well paid stars can look forward to another season in L1. |
It's very hypocritical and a marked contrast to the attitude taken by Port Vale and Bradford in League 2 who were in similar positions in the table. I feel sorrier for Tranmere than Peterborough and their massive budget if it does go on points per game. The bottom line is most clubs will vote based on some self-interest, with a few exceptions like Port Vale and Bradford who have taken a very altruistic stance. League 2 clubs even decided to split the testing cost for the playoffs among all 24 clubs.
Perhaps he should include Burton as well. There was quite a long interview with the Burton chairman on Radio 5 last night explaining why he thinks the season should be ended and how Nigel Clough and his team resigning has saved a lot of jobs there. He would prefer to use the large amount of money that they would have to spend on testing to help out of work players. I believe the Accrington chairman has been quite vociferous about ending the season too.
It reminds me a bit of the debate in Scotland which I have been following. Up there Rangers and Hearts have been setting themselves up as the torchbearers of football integrity. In reality Rangers were only interested in stopping Celtic getting 9 in a row and Hearts suddenly discovered an interest in league reconstruction, but just temporarily to help them avoid relegation, despite having one of largest budgets in the league. There was also some bizarre conspiracy theory which required the chairman of bottom club Brechin City (who sits on the SPFL board) to have vast influence over Premier League clubs.
There have been some epic club statements slagging off all and sundry with no room for diplomatic language, particularly from Hearts, Inverness, Partick and Falkirk eg https://www.falkirkfc.co.uk/2020/05/08/club-statement-12/ and https://ptfc.co.uk/ptfc-news/board-update-on-reconstruction-and-relegation/
Thankfully we haven't got quite that far yet . . . |  | | |
| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places on 20:23 - May 21 with 2344 views | TVOS1907 |
Assuming Coventry and Rotherham are rightfully awarded the top two places, those clubs who are shouting the loudest are playing for ONE more promotion place.
No matter how much they shout and complain, all but one of them will still be back in League One next season.
The likes of Peterborough seem to think they have a deserved and guaranteed place in the Championship to come.
The bottom line is that they all want the riches the Championship will bring them; it's got sod all to do with footballing integrity. |  |
| When I was your age, I used to enjoy the odd game of tennis. Or was it golf? |
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| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places on 20:54 - May 21 with 2291 views | SuddenLad |
McAnthony is simply whingeing that he feels he has a 'sense of entitlement' due to the amount of money he has thrown into the club and expects that to be recognised and rewarded. Unfortunately for him, it doesn't work like that.
As for that gobsh!te Durham on TalkSport, he needs putting to sleep. He has used that programme as a vehicle to spout about Peterborough for years. I'm surprised people still listen to him.
They're a good match for each other. |  |
| “It is easier to fool people, than to convince them that they have been fooled†|
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| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places on 22:39 - May 21 with 2185 views | KenBoon |
Coronavirus: EFL League One, League Two clubs could fold without Government bailout - MP
Damian Collins MP: "In the next few weeks we could see five to 10 EFL League clubs going into administration... without Government stepping in, those clubs could go to the wall."
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11992440/coronavirus-efl-league-on
I know we've made decent money on cup runs, but are we going to get 100% of the winning and tv broadcast monies if the tournaments aren't completed (thinking FA Cup here). | | | |
| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places on 22:44 - May 21 with 2169 views | judd |
| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places on 22:39 - May 21 by KenBoon |
Coronavirus: EFL League One, League Two clubs could fold without Government bailout - MP
Damian Collins MP: "In the next few weeks we could see five to 10 EFL League clubs going into administration... without Government stepping in, those clubs could go to the wall."
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11992440/coronavirus-efl-league-on
I know we've made decent money on cup runs, but are we going to get 100% of the winning and tv broadcast monies if the tournaments aren't completed (thinking FA Cup here). |
I'd expect we've already received it. As for paying it back, who knows? |  |
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| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places on 09:46 - May 22 with 1983 views | DaleiLama |
| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places on 22:44 - May 21 by judd |
I'd expect we've already received it. As for paying it back, who knows? |
If it's been spent on the pitch the best they can expect back is sod all  |  |
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| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places on 11:09 - May 22 with 1886 views | NorthernDale |
I may be wrong, but if they apply simple PPG, instead of weighted PPG, then Peterborough would not get into the playoffs.
I do feel sorry for Tranmere, in that they may have got out of it with the season had continued and I know they feel aggrieved that they would go down based on PPG. They could just relegate the bottom two and promote the top three from league 2. I am baffled in how they can have play offs in league 2, when Colchester have released something like 16 players, including some of their better players to save money? Would these players volunteer to turn out for Colchester, risking injuries and after being released? | | | |
| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places on 11:33 - May 22 with 1852 views | SuddenLad |
| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places on 11:09 - May 22 by NorthernDale |
I may be wrong, but if they apply simple PPG, instead of weighted PPG, then Peterborough would not get into the playoffs.
I do feel sorry for Tranmere, in that they may have got out of it with the season had continued and I know they feel aggrieved that they would go down based on PPG. They could just relegate the bottom two and promote the top three from league 2. I am baffled in how they can have play offs in league 2, when Colchester have released something like 16 players, including some of their better players to save money? Would these players volunteer to turn out for Colchester, risking injuries and after being released? |
Presumably they would be under contract until June 30th after which they are free to do as they wish. Unless they have been 'paid up' and no longer under contract. | |
| “It is easier to fool people, than to convince them that they have been fooled†|
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| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places on 13:02 - May 22 with 1776 views | TVOS1907 |
| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places on 11:09 - May 22 by NorthernDale |
I may be wrong, but if they apply simple PPG, instead of weighted PPG, then Peterborough would not get into the playoffs.
I do feel sorry for Tranmere, in that they may have got out of it with the season had continued and I know they feel aggrieved that they would go down based on PPG. They could just relegate the bottom two and promote the top three from league 2. I am baffled in how they can have play offs in league 2, when Colchester have released something like 16 players, including some of their better players to save money? Would these players volunteer to turn out for Colchester, risking injuries and after being released? |
If the season had run its full course and Tranmere had finished in the bottom three, they would have gone down with the third-worst PPG ratio in the division, so I don't understand where this "feeling sorry for them" comes from.
It's as though there is some sort of assumption that they would have continued the form from their last three games over the rest of the season, rather than the form shown in the previous 34 games.
If PPG is to be used, then it has to be on what HAS happened rather than what MIGHT happen. | |
| When I was your age, I used to enjoy the odd game of tennis. Or was it golf? |
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| Exclusive: Leagues One and Two abandoned, clubs to vote how to decide places on 13:27 - May 22 with 1736 views | macro |
I have some sympathy for Tranmere but if restarting and finishing the season is not feasible then PPG is the only way it can happen. As for mouth almighty at Peterborough he's been complaining all season that if they don't go up he'll quit so maybe he needs to hand the reigns to someone else. He won't though and he'll take every opportunity to complain about it for seasons to come |  | | |
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