“It sets a deeply concerning precedent for professional football clubs to decide against completing competitions they have entered because they don’t feel like doing so”
Last Updated: 20/05/20 12:29pm
Sunderland say completing the current season will come at a ‘considerable cost’
Sunderland have insisted the League One season must be finished on the pitch, and “not in a meeting room and most certainly not in a courtroom”.
The EFL board will meet on Wednesday afternoon to discuss how to conclude the 2019/20 season for the Championship, League One and League Two.
There is disagreement among third-tier clubs about how to proceed after the season was suspended in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Sunderland were part of a group of six clubs who announced last week their commitment to completing the season on the pitch, and the club’s chief executive Jim Rodwell says their view has not changed.
“We believe that any league placings should be determined by what happens on the pitch, not in a meeting room and most certainly not in a courtroom,” he said.
The EFL said on Friday that a framework has been agreed in the event of the season being forced to conclude prematurely, using an unweighted points-per-game (PPG) system, the retention of the play-offs plus promotion and relegation.
Tranmere chairman Mark Palios, whose club are currently third from bottom in League One, said on Tuesday night he believes the season should end now but does not think PPG should decide which teams are relegated to League Two.
Clubs in League Two indicated a preference to end their season primarily due to the costs of continuing, with no matchday revenue coming in and the expense of testing.
Sunderland chief executive Jim Rodwell, though, says that is a price his club are willing to meet.
“Fulfilling our remaining fixtures will come at considerable cost, but it sets a deeply concerning precedent for professional football clubs to decide against completing competitions they have entered because they don’t feel like doing so,” he added.
“Neither fixtures being suspended for public health reasons or matches being played behind closed doors are novel scenarios, but both have happened in the past without clubs opting against fulfilling fixtures and altering competition rules.”
Sunderland are 7th in League One, behind Peterborough United on goal difference.
