EFL board to consider alternative proposals for settling League One table as Sunderland hope for promotion chance

The EFL board will consider a number of alternative proposals for settling Sunderland’s season at its weekly board meeting today.
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Third-tier clubs have been divided on whether the current campaign should resume, with League Two indicating a preference for curtailment as the Championship moves towards a June 20 restart.

The EFL has issued clubs with its preferred framework, which would see the tables settled on a points-per-game formula in the event that 51% of clubs in a division vote to curtail.

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Crucially, they made clear their preference to avoid extending the play-offs, and also insisted that the principles of promotion and relegation must remain.

Sunderland are hoping for a chance to try and win promotion this summerSunderland are hoping for a chance to try and win promotion this summer
Sunderland are hoping for a chance to try and win promotion this summer

To pass, the framework needs to be approved by a majority of clubs from across the three divisions, as well as majority within the Championship itself.

The vote is expected to take place early next week, but clubs were invited to submit alternative proposals ahead of the board meeting.

The EFL say they will now be considered, with a further update to follow.

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An EFL spokesman said: “The EFL Board has today received a number submissions from EFL Clubs in respect of proposed amendments to EFL Regulations. Changes are required in order to determine what will happen in the event season 2019/20 is curtailed in any EFL Division.

“As a result of a number of competing proposals, these will now be discussed at tomorrow’s EFL Board meeting, with a further update to follow.”

One of the proposals submitted has come from Tranmere Rovers, who would be relegated if the table is settled on a PPG formula.

They have proposed using PPG but with a ‘margin for error’, which uses their analysis from previous seasons that compares where clubs have gone to finish from their position at this stage of the season.

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Under their proposals, only two clubs (Bolton Wanderers and Southend United) would be relegated.

Sunderland would be invited to take part in an extended play-off campaign.

The proposal already has support from Peterborough United.

Co-owner Dr Jason Neale said: “We contributed to and supported the Tranmere proposal which sees a PPG with a margin for error used to decide who is relegated and which teams secure play-off spots.

“Under the proposal Tranmere stay up, the league is expanded to 25 teams for one year and eight teams can opt into the play-offs.

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“We and several other clubs submitted a proposal to expand the play-offs which the EFL board rejected (last week).

“However, Tranmere have forced their hand and they are now promised to send ‘new’ proposals for EFL membership voting provided the framework is met, which within the Tranmere proposal it is.”

Another key issue that the EFL face is that there is widespread opposition to the principle of relegating a side from League Two.

A majority of clubs in the fourth tier indicated that they did not support this when an indicative vote was held weeks ago.