The League One and Two seasons will be abandoned next week, according to Matt Slater of The Athletic.
EFL to Abandon Leagues One and Two Next Week
Unfeasible to Continue
After weeks of trying to negotiate a return, it has now been deemed unfeasible for clubs in the lower reaches of the EFL to finish the 2019/20 campaign.
Several teams are struggling financially due to no matches being played, which is a major source of income.
As a result, it has meant most clubs using the government’s furlough scheme to help pay staff. In most cases, this has also meant the playing staff being placed in the system.
However, the financial struggles of having no football has meant that some clubs have announced their released and retained list earlier than expected. Colchester United have already confirmed four first-team players will depart in June.
How Will the League One and League Two Season Be Decided?
A vote is expected to be held to decide how the season will be concluded without a ball being kicked.
According to The Athletic’s report, points-per-game is the favourite, and expected, way to decide the final places in both leagues.
In League One, this would not make drastic changes to the automatic promotion and relegation spots. Both Coventry City and Rotherham would be promoted, with the former being declared champions. Bolton Wanderers, Southend United and Tranmere would also be relegated.
In League Two, Stevenage, who are currently propping up the division, would be relegated to the National League. At the top of the division, Swindon would be promoted as champions instead of Crewe Alexandra, who currently occupy first place.
However, the difficult decision for both leagues is the play-off positions. If football is not able to continue for these clubs, it would be unfair to conduct the play-off games to decide who goes up.
As a result, the next best-placed team would be promoted. In League One, this would be Oxford United. Cheltenham Town would be promoted from League Two due to holding a better points-per-game record than the current fourth-placed side Exeter City.
Main Photo
Embed from Getty Images
