EFL says removing relegation violates standard practice

The EFL has announced that plan by League Two clubs to scrap relegation at the end of the 2019/20 season is not in accordance with the standard of the League saying that maintaining relegation across all three divisions is integral to maintaining the integrity of the EFL.

Last week due to the coronavirus pandemic, League two voted to end their 2019/202 campaign and proposed to remove relegation given that all the entire season has not been completed when football was suspended.

Given the resolve of the EFL, Stevenage might suffer relegation to the National League, as the Hertfordshire club were three points from safety before suspension of football in the middle of March.

EFL has also announced that the final league tables would be determined using an unweighted points per game system in case Championship and League One follow suit with League Two’s by curtailing their seasons.

Automatically, this would mean Leeds and West Brom who in the Championship table were seven and six points clear of third place Fulham before the football was suspended.

The EFL board also said that play-offs should be played in the course of curtailment and that any plan for extension beyond the regular four teams should not be entertained.

Speaking about the decision on curtailment, EFL also said that the clubs should have about 51 percent agreement over curtailing the division before going ahead.

League one is however in disagreement over whether to stop the game or continue.

Speaking about the decision, Rick Parry, EFL chairman said, “In the event that a divisional decision is made to curtail the 2019-20 season, the EFL board is recommending that the league adopts the original framework with the amendments as identified, as there is a strong desire to remain as faithful as possible to the regulations and ensure there is consistency in the approach adopted across the EFL in all divisions.”

The chairman further acknowledged that the League might not be able to work out a single action solution for all clubs but they are committed to putting in place actions that would prove beneficiary for both clubs and their members.

“The board has always acknowledged that a single solution to satisfy all clubs would always be hard to find, but we are at the point now where strong, definitive action is needed for the good of the league and its members,” said Rick Parry.