Blues fight for season to be completed despite Coronavirus concerns

By Derek Davis

15th May 2020 | Local Sport

Ipswich Town are one of six league One clubs holding out to complete the League One season on the pitch.

A meeting involving all 72 EFL clubs today concluded that talks between the league's governing body and League One clubs would continue, while reaching a conclusion regarding the Championship and League Two.

Marcus Evans has written to EFL chairman Rick Parry urging the football body to do everything possible to finish the season.

Town along with Peterborough United, Sunderland, Oxford United, Fleetwood and Portsmouth, have combined to reiterate the desire to conclude the 2019/20 campaign on the playing field when it's safe to do so.

In his letter, Town club owner Evans acknowledged the challenges the EFL face but said unless the Government say for health reasons football can't be played behind closed doors, all options should be investigated to see the fixtures finished for sporting integrity.

"The focus should be on how we finish the season and not how do we end the season on an incomplete basis," wrote Evans.

This is despite, the Blues sitting in tenth place in league One, are seven points off sixth placed, Peterborough United who have a game in hand.

The EFL statement said: "Representatives of League One and League Two Clubs have met today by division where they have shared a wide range of comprehensive views in respect of how the 2019/20 season is concluded.

"The rationale for playing the remaining matches has been fully debated with a particular focus on the issues COVID-19 has created in respect of health and wellbeing, ongoing testing requirements, player registration issues and the financial burdens Clubs already face at this difficult time.

"In the event of a curtailment of the season, the EFL Board outlined how this could be addressed through a framework that includes maintaining the principle of promotion and relegation, league tables to be determined via unweighted points per game (PPG) and Play-Offs to remain in every division to determine the final promotion place.

"The EFL Board, whose aspiration has always been to conclude the 2019/20 season by completing the remaining fixtures, has previously stated that any decision on how to conclude the season is a matter for Clubs to determine in their respective divisions and, as a result of today's discussions, the following update can be provided:

League One

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.

League Two

Having considered the protocols and costs that would be required to be met to conclude the current season, League Two Clubs have unanimously indicated a preferred direction of travel to curtail the campaign in line with the framework outlined by the EFL Board.

In addition, Clubs asked for consideration to be given to suspending relegation to the National League for 2019/20 as a result of circumstances created where fixtures cannot be completed. No commitments were made in this respect and the Board will now consider the implications of the division's preferred approach at their next meeting.

"In addition, Championship Clubs met earlier this week and have indicated that it is their wish to play on and conclude the season.

"The EFL will continue to work with all its members to progress the discussions and arrive at the necessary decisions as appropriate in what remain challenging and complex circumstances."

     

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