'Majority' of League One clubs oppose Sunderland, Portsmouth and Ipswich's plans to finish the season, says CEO

A ‘majority’ of League One clubs oppose plans to finish the League One season – according to Shrewsbury Town chief executive Brian Caldwell.
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Sunderland and a group of fellow promotion chasers – including Portsmouth, Oxford United, Fleetwood Town, Ipswich Town and Peterborough United – have been vocal in their belief that the campaign should be played to a finish once it is safe to do so.

They were able to put forward their case at a meeting of League One clubs on Friday morning, with further talks over the possible resumption of the season scheduled for Monday.

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But Caldwell believes that a ‘majority’ of clubs want to see the season curtailed.

A 'majority' of League One clubs reportedly want to curtail the seasonA 'majority' of League One clubs reportedly want to curtail the season
A 'majority' of League One clubs reportedly want to curtail the season

“There was a discussion because of the five or six who are keen to continue playing,” he said, speaking to Shrewsbury Town’s official website.

“But it would appear, without taking a vote and from what I'm hearing on the grapevine, that the majority of other clubs want to end the season.”

A number of clubs, including the Shrews, believe that the costs of completing the season in front of empty stadiums would prove counter-productive.

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Indeed, it is estimated that the cost of testing players could leave clubs having to fork out up to £140,000 – without their regular match day income.

“The EFL board are of the opinion that they still want to play the season when it's possible and is safe to do so, and they will leave it to the clubs if there will be any curtailment of the season,” explained Caldwell.

“But when I look at it from our club's perspective, which I guess is what we're always going to do, from a cost point of view and with the potential of no crowds, the cost of testing, the loss of furlough money, the cost of hosting games, buses - because we wouldn't all be able to go on one bus with the social distancing - you're probably looking at the best part of £500,000 to play the remaining games.”