The latest word stemming from the English media today suggests that the League One and League Two seasons will be brought to a definitive end next week.
Football hit hard
As COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc on football across the globe, the vast majority of top-tier competitions have been brought to a halt.
The likes of the Premier League, Serie A and La Liga have all been postponed since early March, with the Champions League and Europa League also at a standstill.
Amid major concerns over the safety of players and staff alike moving forward, meanwhile, both Ligue 1 and the Eredivisie were recently ended with immediate effect.
Ligue 1 has not followed the Eredivisie’s example – PSG are champions 🏆
— Goal News (@GoalNews) April 30, 2020
Whilst top divisions, and even some 2nd-tiers, continue to grab the headlines, though, the fates of clubs further down the football pecking order have too often been overlooked by fans and the media alike.
As Premier League outfits, for example, gear up for a return to action over the coming weeks, clubs plying their trade in League One and League Two have been left largely in the dark amid the COVID-19 crisis.
Some in England’s 3rd and 4th tiers would likely find it next to impossible to play out the season’s remaining fixtures, without the assurance of income from TV revenue or ticket sales.
English leagues set for imminent shutdown
As outlined above, though, a major update on the fate of both the League One and League Two campaigns has today been forthcoming.
As per Matt Slater of the reliable Athletic:
‘The English Football League will next week tell clubs in Leagues One and Two there is no chance of playing any more games this season.’
An EFL announcement could even be forthcoming as early as next Monday.
Furthermore, it is added that a vote amongst participating clubs will be held to decide on the methods for both promotion and relegation.
The most likely scenario would see a points-per-game model put in place, ‘weighted to reflect how many games the teams have played home and away’.
The EFL will tell clubs in the third and fourth tiers next week that there is no possibility of playing any more matches this season.
More from @mjshrimper https://t.co/hN6B6IyBxs
— The Athletic UK (@TheAthleticUK) May 8, 2020
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