Chairman of Sunderland's League One rivals calls for season to be voided as his team battle to avoid relegation

The EFL said yesterday that it had made no decisions on what happens next as the UK deals with the outbreak of COVID-19.

League One is currently set to resume on April 4th but there is an acceptance within the game that this is unlikely to be feasible.

The EFL are set to meet this week to discuss the next steps, with UEFA set to confirm on Tuesday afternoon that EURO 2020 will now take place next summer.

That gives domestic leagues across Europe extra time to complete their current campaigns, depending on how the growing crisis across the continent develops.

Ron Martin says the best solution is to ‘start afresh’ in August.

Southend United are currently second bottom of League One, and a massive sixteen points adrift of safety.

He told the Southend Echo: “If the season was extended for a couple of months it has a knock-on effect for next season and then when does it stop?

“That’s the reason why it makes good sense to draw a line under it now and say it’s the end before starting the new season afresh in August.

“I think there are too many games to go to draw a line under the season and say the table stays as it is now because there would be many dissatisfied and hugely upset clubs.

“Equally, the clubs near the bottom who feels they can survive should be given the opportunity to continue. Things can still change dramatically.

“If it’s null and void then people could look at it and see it’s an unprecedented position so unprecedented steps were taken and the season was cancelled,” Martin added.

“I think people could understand that rationale.”

Martin says whatever decision is reached, the governing bodies face an ‘impossible choice’.

“It’s an impossible choice and you will not find a solution to suit everyone,” said Martin.

“I know it would suit us for it to be null and void but it would be upsetting for the teams who could be promoted.”