League One chairman hits out at 'selfish agenda merchants' - and calls for drastic financial penalties for Sunderland's rivals

MacAnthony is a strong advocate of completing the current campaign when it is safe to do so, and discussed his displeasure at what he perceives as ‘agenda merchants’ who are pushing for the League One season to be declared null and void.

Sunderland remain committed to completing their fixture programme, with Phil Parkinson currently working from home as the club bid to ensure they are prepared for when the season kicks-off once more.

But MacAnthony hit out at other unnamed clubs in the third tier who want to concede the current campaign, and suggested they should be financially penalised if they wish to pursue what he sees as a ‘selfish agenda’.

Speaking on his ‘Hard Truths’ podcast, the Posh owner said: “To the owners hiding behind this pandemic to push their agenda of not finishing the season, I say ‘screw you.’

“I don’t like that message, I don’t like that excuse and I don’t like the fact you are trying to hide your real agenda. You are bang out of order.

“I’ve seen people out there on social media, people I usually respect, saying the EFL should pay us to play these nine games, that we are not bothered about playing them and if we do play them we will use kids.

“These people should grow some balls and say it for what it is. They’ve gone into self-preservation mode. These people are either at clubs who are getting relegated so it’s in their interests to not play the remaining games and get the season voided.

“Or they are at mid-table clubs who have achieved **** all this season so they have no interest in playing any more.

“Well I say to them integrity must now kick in. They are all members of the EFL. They are contracted to play 44 or 46 games this season. They have already been paid to do so by the EFL and by Premier League solidarity money so if they want to pursue a selfish agenda they should repay those monies now and if they don’t want to play the fixtures they can forfeit them all 3-0.

“We have a season to finish and we will finish it. The Premier League have said they will finish their season and so must we so stop spouting this nonsense.

“I wouldn’t act like that if my club was struggling. I’m all about integrity and fairness. If my club was battling against relegation I’d still want League One to finish.

“As it is there are 9/10 clubs still with a chance of promotion and four or five clubs battling against relegation. After 36 matches our season just has to finish.”