These are crazy times but the most curious of scenarios exists at the foot of League Two.
Under normal circumstances, both Macclesfield Town and Stevenage would be likely to depart from League Two.
It’s typically two teams to be relegated from League Two. Stevenage are adrift and Macclesfield’s regular point deductions put them firmly over the trapdoor.
Who Will Be Relegated From League Two?
League Two Sides Got Lucky
Of course, these aren’t normal circumstances. Bury’s expulsion from League One earlier in the season meant that only one team out of 24 was due to be relegated from the Football League. The bar had been set low.
One option could have been to relegate two teams and promote three from non-league football. But it didn’t happen, it was never proposed but, if it had, could the relegated sides really complain? It was meant to be two down and would have stayed at two down. Their circumstances wouldn’t have changed in terms of what was required to survive.
The point is that League Two sides got lucky in the first place. Half the relegation places were wiped away by a side not from their division.
Then there was talk of no relegation at all. Continued promotion and relegation for all divisions is the way forward.
Clubs have completed 80% of the season. Voiding the campaign would wipe away everything, so instead use something where the majority of games have been played. Teams are in those positions because that’s how they performed throughout the season. If Swindon Town or Crewe Alexandra from League Two played Bolton Wanderers or Southend United from League One there’s little doubt who would start as favourites.
Macclesfield Town Versus Stevenage
Relegate two clubs or no relegation at all do not seem to be on the cards. Instead, it’s between Macclesfield and Stevenage as to who is relegated from League Two. The complication is that Macclesfield have suffered points deductions, further confused by suspended point deductions and finishing the season on a points-per-game basis.
When something gets really complicated, there’s little chance of unwinding it and this is where the EFL have tied themselves up. The guidelines are suitably vague, but this is one take on it.
If Macclesfield go into administration, then a deduction of 12 points could apply. If they fail to pay their staff, then they can be deducted a number of points on a monthly basis. The fact that they have already received two points deductions this season suggests that this could continue ad infinitum. Fail to pay staff for five months, receive a deduction of six points at a time and this would total 30 points.
So, 12 points for administration yet whilst struggling along the club keeps getting docked points.
Points-Per-Game: Complications in Deciding Who is Relegated From League Two
Then there’s the added challenge of using points-per-game which means the current 11-point deduction increases to 13.67.
Macclesfield played 37 games with 36 points before deduction and 25 after deduction. Points-per-game before deduction would give them a final total of 44.76. After deduction this comes out at 31.08, the difference being 13.68 rounded up.
The extra component is that the season has now finished; any further deductions would be retrospective. By considering some of the previous deductions handed out by the EFL one has to wonder about the circumstances.
To apply a deduction after the end of the season means being subconsciously influenced by a team’s points position. The EFL made it clear that they wanted to deal with all these matters prior to the end of a season.
It is now June, nearly two months after the season should have completed. The EFL have a lot on their plate but it doesn’t seem they’ve ever had the matter of points deductions under control.
In this particular instance, it is possible to understand why Macclesfield feel that the EFL are out to get them. As usual, the fans who pay their way are the ones to suffer. Thus, a points deduction seems inappropriate, but that may be down to the limited power that the EFL can exert.
Administration could cost 12 points; they are currently down 13.67 and the season finished unofficially nearly two months ago. A Macclesfield fan would feel much more aggrieved than a Stevenage fan to find their beloved club removed from the Football League. This is due to Stevenage’s awful record this season with just three wins in 36 games. Good fortune may be ignored as mere expectation, the way things are meant to be. Misfortune, on the other hand, may be viewed as total injustice.
Conclusion
This is only the tip of the iceberg. It’s a short-term debate when the long-term needs to be considered. A major reason for curtailing the season was that clubs would have had no income from closed-door matches. The problem hasn’t gone away, and the worry is that next season could be even more chaotic than this.
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