Fleetwood Town manager Joey Barton has said it would be “out of order” to end the current League One campaign early. Speaking on Eddie Hearn and Tony Bellew’s Talk the Talk YouTube show, reported by The 72, the former Newcastle United midfielder is hopeful the season can be concluded.
Joey Barton Says Failure to Complete League One Season Would Be ‘Out of Order’
Barton Backs Peterborough Chairman
Barton is echoing the thoughts expressed last week by Peterborough United chairman, Darragh MacAnthony. The Posh chairman, who is also a co-owner, has been an advocate for finishing the current season.
MacAnthony has the backing of Barton’s Fleetwood, along with third-placed Oxford United, Portsmouth, Sunderland and Ipswich Town. All of these clubs intend to finish the current season if it is safe to do so, following a variety of alternative options as to how to complete the season.
Barton Comments
Speaking on ‘Talk the Talk,’ Barton said: “We’ve got Sunderland, Peterborough and Wycombe all scrapping for one play-off place. It looks like Wycombe are going to get it if they go points-per-game. Darragh MacAnthony is alluding he’s going to go bizarre. I’d go nuts as well. It’s out of order. We’ve got to finish the league.
“We’ve got to get moving is my take. I’m happy to take that calculated risk based on everything I’ve been told about testing, about the distancing in place. If we don’t get back moving what are we going to do? Just sit and stay in our house and watch people go out of business.”
Options for Finishing the Current Season
Numerous options as to finish for season have been suggested. A weighted points per game (PPG) and unweighted point per game system have been proposed, with both systems altering the current standings. Another proposition was to award the current top two teams automatic promotion and then have an eight-team playoff to decide who joins them, but with just three points separating teams from second to eighth, it would again cause problems.
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