Exclusive: The radical EFL plans to help Sunderland and their League One rivals navigate looming contract crisis

Sunderland have twelve players due to leave the club at the end of the current campaign, though some of those are loan deals from other clubs.

The EFL remain determined to conclude the season behind closed doors when safe to do so, but they have estimated that this could take 56 days.

With the nationwide lockdown continuing, it therefore seems certain that the campaign will have to continue into July, which could leave clubs without the services of many of their players.

FIFA have already proposed a blanket extension of all contracts until the end of the current campaign, but there are some doubts over the legal and financial implications of doing so.

Under proposals seen by the Echo, the EFL has as such suggested three options that could avert the potential crisis.

They are proposing that Sunderland and fellow clubs have until June 23rd to either offer a new contract or offer a short-term extension to the current contract that will expire at midnight on the final day of the season.

If clubs do not wish to do either of those things, the players in question will be released on June 30th. They would be free to join another club but the EFL is proposing that they will not be eligble to play until the start of a new campaign.

Crucially, the EFL is proposing to push back the date in which clubs will be able to approach players at other clubs regarding a free transfer.

As it stands, that date is the third Saturday in May, but the EFL are proposing that this be pushed back to June 24th.

In the event of players under the age of 24, the EFL is proposing a fourth option to ensure that clubs would still be entitled to vital compensation in the event that their talented prospects move on.

They propose that clubs have until four days after the last day of the season (or June 23rd if that date comes earlier) to offer a deal on ‘no less favourable terms’ than the player’s current contract.

If a new deal or short-term extension is not agreed, the EFL propose they could enter into a week-by-week or conditional contract.

A number of EFL clubs are of the view that players due to be released should be asked to play through July as they will receive a severance payment for that month.

The EFL have told clubs they do not object to this in principle but want further dialogue on the practicalities.

As it stands, Bailey Wright, Josh Scowen, Antoine Semenyo, Tom Flanagan, Jon McLaughlin, Alim Ozturk, Chris Maguire, Duncan Watmore, Kyle Lafferty, Ethan Robson, Joel Lynch and Declan John will not be available if the campaign continues past June 30th.

No final decisions on contract rules or the fate of the current campaign have been agreed or finalised by the EFL.