'It wasn't fair': League One chief hits out at the EFL and rival clubs with Sunderland's season set to be cancelled

The EFL issued guidance earlier this week stating that the third tier would be decided on an unweighted points-per-game basis if clubs opt to curtail the campaign – which now looks increasingly inevitable.

And while such a move would end Sunderland’s promotion hopes, so too would it consign Peterborough to another season in League One. Indeed, Posh would be one of the big losers of such an outcome.

MacAnthony, who has been vocal in his desire to finish the season, isn’t giving up hope just yet. He feels that an accurate picture of the costs facing clubs if they were to finish the season – something he has been asking to be provided from the outset – could convince some clubs to play on.

The Florida-based businessman also believes that the EFL ‘frightened’ clubs by revealing six-figure testing costs on the eve of a vital meeting.

“It isn’t looking great for my club, but the fat lady isn’t singing just yet,” said MacAnthony, speaking to his ‘Hard Truth’ podcast.

“I live in hope and I will continue to fight for my club. From minute one I’ve wanted to finish the season.

“If the vote goes against us we’ll deal with it. I will take my licking, dust myself down and go again.”

“I have a lot of respect for Rick Parry (EFL Chairman), but I disagree with some of the EFL actions.

“It wasn’t fair to drop in just before the League One conference call last week that testing for coronavirus could cost each club between £120k and £140k. That understandably frightened some clubs.

“Paul Scally (Gillingham chairman) came up with a good suggestion that the PFA could pay for the tests,” he continued.

They are sitting on £50million and it’s their members who will be seeking other professions at the end of this if football does not return soon.

“This £500k cost for each club to complete the season that’s being bandied about is also wrong.

“We could complete the season for between £200k to £300k with testing, putting on the games and bringing players out of furlough and not be liable for some of the refunds that are coming our way to season ticket holders, to Sky and to sponsors.

“If clubs can’t afford that sort of money I’m not sure what they’re doing in competitive football. They’ve probably saved a lot of money by not playing these last couple of months especially if they’ve furloughed their staff. They’d also benefit from the surge of interest in passionate fans who will buy their merchandise and pay to watch the games on iFollow.

“Player contracts are not a problem as we’ve established we can extend them to the end of July.

“Before we have this vote we have asked for costings from the EFL on playing the season and on curtailing it. So far we have had no specific numbers and that disappoints me.

“We can still work out a compromise and reduce the potential cost if we know the true financial numbers, but we need to know the numbers before we vote.

“I’m hoping some of those figures might sway some clubs currently sitting on the fence into continuing the season.”

With the League One season now likely to be ended, MacAnthony has called for clarity over the 2020/21 campaign – and believes that hibernating until fans can return to stadiums could prove ‘catastrophic’.

“We as a club need to know when next season will start,” he added.

“I have 28 athletes kicking their heels. If games are still being played behind closed doors in September or 2October will clubs vote again not to play? If they did it would be catastrophic for our industry.

“We’ve been given the green light to play by the Government so we should be playing. The Premier League and the Championship are going to play and so should we. Hibernating will do us no favours in the long run and those top divisions might break away.”

The Peterborough owner previously suggested that he would pursue legal action if the season failed to be completed, but has now backed down on those threats.

However, he claims he won’t be halting the battle against what he views as ‘unfair procedures’ and ‘dangerous precedents’.

And while he has received criticism on social media for his actions, MacAnthony insists he is not the problem – and that sides who don’t want to finish the season are.

“I have taken legal advice, as have many clubs, as it’s the sensible thing to do in business,” he said.

“But I was tired last week when I made those comments. It’s not something we will be doing.

“I’m a football person who wants the clubs to play football again. The ones who would rather hibernate than play are the problems.

“Of course I will fight for my club. It’s my job. And I believe passionately that we should still carry on and complete the season rather than accept a points-per-game solution that is simply unfair.

“To me you can’t vote for PPG if you’re also voting to finish the season? That makes no sense.

“This is not a battle against Wycombe or Rotherham or Coventry. If any club deserves success after what they’ve been through in recent years it’s Coventry, but it is a battle against unfair procedures and against setting dangerous precedents for the future.”