As confirmed a short time ago, the English League Two campaign has been brought to an end with immediate effect.
Football inching towards return
As the COVID-19 crisis continues to wreak havoc on events around the globe, football has of course been at a near standstill for several months now.
In Europe, Belarus remains the only country in which top-flight football continues to be played, with the Champions League and Europa League having also been postponed for the time being.
25 February 2020, Great Britain, London: Football: Champions League, FC Chelsea – FC Bayern Munich, knockout rounds, last sixteen, first leg at Stamford Bridge stadium. Robert Lewandowski of Munich shoots at the goal of Willy Caballero of Chelsea. Photo: Sven Hoppe/dpa (Photo by Sven Hoppe/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Recent weeks, however, have seen positive steps taken towards the resumption of all of Serie A, La Liga and the Bundesliga, with the latter actually due to get back underway this weekend.
In England, meanwhile, the ultimate goal has, for some time, been to see out the final weeks of the Premier League campaign.
At a meeting of Shareholders, clubs discussed possible steps to resume the 2019/20 season
The League and clubs will only return to training and playing with Government guidance, under expert advice and after consultation with players and managers
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— Premier League (@premierleague) May 1, 2020
League Two over
Whilst top leagues, and even some 2nd divisions, 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 top-tier outfits in England, for example, gear up for a return to action over the coming weeks, clubs plying their trade in League One and League Two had long been left largely in the dark amid the COVID-19 crisis.
As outlined above, though, a definitive announcement on the fate of the English 4th division season has this afternoon been forthcoming.
With the much-needed revenue from ticket sales out the window, the financial strain which would be brought forth by seeing out the final rounds of League Two fixtures has proven too much, resulting in an immediate end to the campaign.
This comes on the back of a lengthy discussion between the EFL and all 24 League Two clubs.
A weighted points-per-game system, meanwhile, has been put in place to decide the outcome of the table.
This, as things stand, will see Crewe Alexandra, Swindown Town and Plymouth Argyle promoted.
Relegation, though, looks likely to be scrapped.
The League Two season will end immediately following discussions between all 24 clubs and the EFL.
👉 https://t.co/daBS7XhieT pic.twitter.com/MfYtqQBg0g
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) May 15, 2020
While the League Two picture now looks much clearer, however, major question marks remain over the League One campaign.
Following another meeting this afternoon, a definitive decision could not be reached between the participating clubs regarding the remainder of the 2019/20 season.
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