Athletic Article: League One and Two Seasons to be abandoned next week

[Chris FGR]

I can see a good argument for reprieving clubs given the exceptional circumstances, especially if it helps them survive financially. Need to protect as many clubs as possible.

 

[RLC]

The common sense you so obviously lack. Read the posts above. (I was replying to the Anglo-Greek WUM).

 

[The Terminator]

Gary Neville said on Sky this morning that he is 99% certain that Leagues One and Two will be officially ended next week and will not restart.

Clubs don't have the money to test all players, staff etc every few days - Plus the nature of the players contracts expiring on 30th June and with 1,500 players out of contract, clubs won't want to pay players bonuses beyond their contract dates - especially if the games are played behind closed doors because there will no income to come in from the games.

I'm not a believer of voiding a season, because it means that the clubs who are near the bottom of their leagues essentially get away with having a poor a season - I'd say the same if my club was bottom of League Two as well.

PPG is probably the best way to determine it. Going forward something like deciding a season on PPG should probably be written into the rules, just in case a similar scenario ever happens again - Clubs wouldn't have a leg to stand on then.

 

[Indian Dan]

The common sense you so obviously lack. Read the posts above. (I was replying to the Anglo-Greek WUM).

Be honest. All you want is a way to squirm out of getting relegated.

 

[Boletus Edulis]

The common sense you so obviously lack. Read the posts above. (I was replying to the Anglo-Greek WUM).

Hi RLC. All this season I have found Indian Dan’s posts thoughtful and fair. There are WUMs on this board, but not him (I assume it is a he and not short for Danielle).

 

[Chris FGR]

Danielle.

Pretty sure it's not.

 

[Indian Dan]

Thanks. I’m not trying to wind anyone up.

Sure, the ppg method is unfair. It’s unfair on Tranmere, it’s unfair on the 4 or 5 clubs separated by only 1 point at the top of L1. Its unfair on Exeter in our league.

I get that fans of the clubs being shafted by whatever method is used to finish this season are going to be pissed off if it adversely affects them.

BUT it is more important that the season is finished with ups and downs. It’s better to reward the achievement of being one of the best in your respective league then it is to reward failing, relegation threatened teams.

 

[Indian Dan]

Danielle.

Pretty sure it's not.

Could be my weekend persona.

 

[RLC]

My criticism relates to the promotion of teams in play off positions. If we were in the position of Southend and Bolton I would have no complaints. The negative impact of relegating a club that had a good chance of survival is greater, in my view, than of not promoting a team that at best had an outside chance of going up, and would have budgeted and planned accordingly.

 

[RLC]

I would have argued the same if this had happened last season, when we finished in the play offs.

 

[Indian Dan]

So how would you would you have the season finished? Voiding isn’t an option for many reasons.

 

[AdamStag]

I think it’s logical that Bolton Southend and tranmere come down if that’s how it works on PPG, a little harsh on tranmere possibly given the cup run etc, but that’s how the cookie crumbles.

 

[Indian Dan]

Tbh, it’s more unfair on those at the top end of the table - being so closely packed. The reason any club is 3rd from bottom of the table come the business end of the season is because they haven’t been good enough for the majority of the season. In any other normal season it would have been even more difficult with 4 going down, so they have benefitted from one less relegation spot and haven’t managed to take advantage of that.

I honestly can’t see how there can be a conclusion that rescues Tranmere

 

[Kenneth E End]

Thanks. I’m not trying to wind anyone up.

Sure, the ppg method is unfair. It’s unfair on Tranmere, it’s unfair on the 4 or 5 clubs separated by only 1 point at the top of L1. Its unfair on Exeter in our league.

I get that fans of the clubs being shafted by whatever method is used to finish this season are going to be pissed off if it adversely affects them.

BUT it is more important that the season is finished with ups and downs. It’s better to reward the achievement of being one of the best in your respective league then it is to reward failing, relegation threatened teams.

No team should be promoted or relegated based on a Duckworth-Lewis method of deciding it.

 

[Indian Dan]

Again, it’s the lesser of 2 evils. Voiding just rewards the failing clubs.

 

[Trapdoor]

I would tilt off the face of the earth if this happens. Hope we get to play out the rest of the games behind closed doors at the very least.

 

[Indian Dan]

Absolute zero chance of that happening.

Apparently, if football had been suspended a week earlier you would have been 3rd and Plymouth 5th!

 

[RLC]

So how would you would you have the season finished? Voiding isn’t an option for many reasons.

The season should not be finished as it is not financially viable. However, the best way to conclude it is debatable and voiding should be an option.

 

[valefan16]

Absolute zero chance of that happening.

Apparently, if football had been suspended a week earlier you would have been 3rd and Plymouth 5th!

That’s probably the best example of why it needs to be played whenever physically possible as rewarding promotions that have yet to earnt isn’t fair on clubs just missing out. It changes week on week in terms of PPG

 

[The Terminator]

I would tilt off the face of the earth if this happens. Hope we get to play out the rest of the games behind closed doors at the very least.

Its not going to happen, clubs at our level can't afford the costs involved in testing players and staff every other day to ensure a safe environment.

The only way we're going to be able to afford it down here is with the PL paying for it - Which isn't realistically going to happen because they haven't even got their own house in order.

For what its worth, IMO PPG is the way to do it and from next season PPG should be written into the rules so that if this happens again then we all know what will happen.

 

[AdamStag]

Its not going to happen, clubs at our level can't afford the costs involved in testing players and staff every other day to ensure a safe environment.

The only way we're going to be able to afford it down here is with the PL paying for it - Which isn't realistically going to happen because they haven't even got their own house in order.

For what its worth, IMO PPG is the way to do it and from next season PPG should be written into the rules so that if this happens again then we all know what will happen.

I agree that PPG should be written into the rules, but surely even then it would only become credible after a while, the other example we’ve got is when the season stopped for WWII when the season was say only 5 games old, clearly then you wouldn’t have used PPG you’d have just fucked the season off.

They’d have to suggest that maybe it could come into effect when say you’ve played half the season?

 

[Boletus Edulis]

That’s probably the best example of why it needs to be played whenever physically possible as rewarding promotions that have yet to earnt isn’t fair on clubs just missing out. It changes week on week in terms of PPG

Okay, genuine question. Given that it is highly unlikely Leagues 1 and 2 will be able to play any games for quite awhile. What is your solution to this conundrum?

 

[T.A]

Lol Stevenage.

 

[Jerry]

I would have argued the same if this had happened last season, when we finished in the play offs.

Not aimed at you specifically RLC but I see this sort of comment a lot and it is clearly nonsense. I've yet to see a single person agreeing with a solution that would adversely effect their club. At both ends of tables.

Why can't people just be honest and admit they are arguing for whatever plan benefits their team? There is nothing wrong with that.

 

[AdamStag]

Not aimed at you specifically RLC but I see this sort of comment a lot and it is clearly nonsense. I've yet to see a single person agreeing with a solution that would adversely effect their club. At both ends of tables.

Why can't people just be honest and admit they are arguing for whatever plan benefits their team? There is nothing wrong with that.

Put it a different way, Mansfield finished 4th last season - clearly better league wise than anyone in the playoffs - we didn’t go up.

Would I want to go up that way, not at all? However, it’s the most sensible thing to do that 4th goes up. If you’re currently in a relegation zone on PPG then well it’s unlucky but the way it is.

 

[valefan16]

Okay, genuine question. Given that it is highly unlikely Leagues 1 and 2 will be able to play any games for quite awhile. What is your solution to this conundrum?

Ideally you wait and finish it whatever the cost to next season. Best to finish it next Jan/feb if it takes that long, there’s nothing to say at this stage next season will even be able to start. Finish the unfinished business first.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

I want the season to finish in the best way possible, by completing it of course. But with 40% of the leagues players out of contract and Rick Parry putting a 31st July deadline in? Not a chance we can do it unfortunately.

 

[Boletus Edulis]

What common sense do you want them to use? There has to be relegation/promotion decided so what criteria would have them use? Any which way I reckon you’re toast.

Agreed. Say we did start, and some teams could get not get out a team because they had players with legislate reasons not to play? Or we start, play a few games and several players get Covid 19?

 

[chipmunx]

Agreed. Say we did start, and some teams could get not get out a team because they had players with legislate reasons not to play? Or we start, play a few games and several players get Covid 19?

like as one club put it - there are 3 players that don't want to risk playing and catching it because they have heavily pregnant partners that they don't want to put at risk

 

[Huntsman94]

It's always going to be difficult and as has already been mentioned if PPG is the way to go, ourselves and Exeter + the sides competing at the top of L1 would be the ones to really suffer but whilst it would be tough to take, we'd have to suck it up and challenge for promotion next season.

We had a very busy January with the FA Cup going on. We also made a few signings that were just starting to gel as was seen in winning away at Accrington, Shrewsbury and Blackpool. We were also only 3 points off AFC Wimbledon with a game in hand, had them to play, and had very winnable games against the teams directly above us.

The one thing I don't agree with is all 4 of the top divisions in England following different rules which then continues down the pyramid. I don't think that's fair on anybody.

Anyway if we do go down then we'll be in a very good place to fight for promotion immediately in League 2. Our finances are very secure thanks to recent overseas investment, we'll have the resources that the majority of other clubs won't have to strengthen our squad and we'll have our new shiny pitch to look forward to! Given we were in the scenario of being 19th in the National League just 3 years ago, just being in the Football League is still a reason to be thankful!