'It's an absolute disgrace': Boss of Sunderland's rivals launches an extraordinary tirade at the EFL ahead of key meeting

The Tractor Boys currently sit tenth in the third tier and are one of the ‘gang of six’ keen to see the campaign played to completion.

They joined Sunderland, Peterborough United, Oxford United, Fleetwood Town and Portsmouth in releasing an explosive statement on the eve of last week’s meeting of League One owners, with clubs still split over the remainder of the 2019/20 season.

While no further club meeting is currently scheduled, the EFL board are set to meet today to discuss their next steps and what may or may not be practical when it comes to deciding promotion.

And although no firm decisions are expected today – with clubs set to convene at a later date – Lambert has called on the EFL to show some leadership and give clubs the clarity they are craving.

“I think it's an absolute disgrace what's happening, with League One especially,” Lambert told the Daily Mail.

“It's terrible, it's so wrong that they haven't told us what is going on. There are so many unanswered questions and it seems there is so much passing the buck here and there.

“Will someone just make a decision? It's badly lacking leadership. They should be saying, ‘We can't make everyone happy, but here is the decision that we think is best for now’.

“You might not keep everyone happy but at least we can all get our head around it and make plans, be that playing the season now or ending it and not coming back until September or whenever.

“This in-fighting, what's happening here or there or who wants what, that's no good for me, it's not a nice situation.”

Clubs are currently permitted to return to training on May 25, but Lambert believes this is unlikely given that a restart date is yet to be set.

Indeed, he is now resigned to the fact the season likely won’t finish and that any faint promotion hopes harbored by his side are now fading.

And he has once again called on football to take a united front in their tackling of the situation – having earlier this week called on the Premier League to financially support lower league clubs looking to complete their campaign.

“You can't take people off furlough if no one else in the division is going to do it and games aren't going to be played,” Lambert continued.

“We can't have a training date if we don't have a start date.

“Football is one organisation - why are we not singing from the same hymn sheet? What's different? It's the same game, the same ball. It should be one organisation saying, ‘This is what we have to do’.

“Personally, I would love to finish, if it is safe to do so. We have five home games left and could finish well. But, looking at it, I don't see how that's going to happen now.”