Sunderland taking firm stance ahead of crunch meeting on fate of the League One season

Sunderland are determined to fight any attempts to bring the League One campaign to an early conclusion.
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Third-tier clubs are meeting this morning to discuss the next steps, with the fate of the season still unclear.

A number of clubs have expressed their reservations about the prospect of playing behind closed doors, and the timeframe for completing the season before Rick Parry's July 31st deadline is narrowing.

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Clubs were informed earlier this week that they now cannot return to training until May 25th at the earliest. Parry has previously told clubs that he believes a 56-day period will be needed to complete the campaign.

Sunderland are lobbying to avoid an early end to the League One seasonSunderland are lobbying to avoid an early end to the League One season
Sunderland are lobbying to avoid an early end to the League One season

There has been a growing sense of resignation around the third and fourth tiers, but the Black Cats are not willing to accept an end to their promotion ambitions at this stage.

The club has been represented in its dialogue with the EFL and other clubs by new CEO Jim Rodwell, and there remains a determination to try and resume if safe to do so.

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Sunderland are likely to have a strong ally in Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony, who last month told the Echo that he had received support from the north east in his vocal support of a return to action this summer.

"I got a lovely email from Richard Hill,” MacAnthony said.

“Myself and Richard have sparred over the Marcus Maddison stuff, and that’s football.

“You can’t fall out with people in football – I think Stewart Donald dug me out on Twitter about the Maddison thing as well, and that irritated me as I’d always spoken in his favour.

“But it was nice from Richard. He just said ‘keep doing what you’re doing, everyone here at Sunderland is in full agreement with what you’re saying.’”

Clubs are not expected to vote on the season or any potential resolution to it on Friday, but many have been calling for greater clarity this week.