Coronavirus and Football

It's 2020. ANYTHING could happen.

Released from lock down today (officially)took a walk to Home Park where workmen are back finishing running electric cables in to Harper's Park. Had to cancel the promotion barbecue this evening will have to wait until next Tuesday.


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POI wrote:

It's 2020. ANYTHING could happen.

Yeah. L1 could vote the same as L2 to not have any clubs promoted into their Division!

Grovehill wrote:

POI wrote:

It's 2020. ANYTHING could happen.

Yeah. L1 could vote the same as L2 to not have any clubs promoted into their Division!

I feel the only way there wont be any promotions/relegations will be if the premiership vote not to relegate 3 teams as that will cause the knock on effect downwards. Personally if the premiership do vote to do that then they must put up funds to help out the clubs that will be effected by this and not bother to finish off their season as its utterly pointless too without relegation as the title chase is overwith.

If the Premier League decide no relegation (very possible) they will still continue with mostly pointless matches as it's all about the TV money plus a handful of teams after European places.

Freathy wrote:

If the Premier League decide no relegation (very possible) they will still continue with mostly pointless matches as it's all about the TV money plus a handful of teams after European places.

money wise absolutely but they can decided european places by points per game. No idea why they have to complete the FA Cup either its like they are setting themselves up for a major clusterfuck when they are panicking to start the new season and still playing the last, the moaning from the premiership about the amount of games they have to play is going to be so hypocritical.

The whole point of the FL is promotion and relegation, take that away and it will be no more enjoyable to watch than Primary school "sports" where it's all about taking part.

Remember hearing on TalkSport when the idea of scrapping promotion and relegation was first reported and the subsequent retaliation from Leeds United supporters groups which indicated the club would try and sue the EFL for substantial compensation should they be denied a place in the EPL

Coventry City will hope the path ahead becomes a little clearer today as the English Football League board meet once again to discuss the future of the League One campaign.

The Sky Blues have been left in limbo, and their promotion hopes on hold, as clubs in the third tier have been split on a preferred course of action.

Next Monday will see a crucial vote that could move City one step closer to a place in the Championship.

But teams had until yesterday afternoon to submit alternative proposals for how they think the season will end, after it was suspended in March due to the coronavirus crisis.

Those proposals will be looked over today with a statement expected either this evening or tomorrow.

We will keep you up to date with the latest developments right here.

NEW RULES to finish 2019/20 season

The first rule which has been made by the EFL is that clubs cannot approach players whose contracts expire on June 30 until June 24.

Clubs now also have until June 23 to offer players a new contract or release them – but they will be unable to play until the 2020/21 season starts, even if they secure a new club.

While players out of contract on June 30 will be able to sign a short-term extension which will run until the 2019/20 season is completed.

The EFL have also confirmed that these rules are in line with FIFA guidance in regards to the current Coronavirus pandemic.

This latest news will be a real boost to Championship clubs who feared losing key players due to the season now being completed at a later date but know they now at least have the option of retaining them as long as an agreement between the club and player can be agreed.

The EFL have confirmed that these proposals have been passed and will now be implemented. These new changes are most likely to affect teams in the Championship as this is the league in which football is most likely to resume.

League Two looks to be all but over albeit the EFL will need to confirm this in meetings soon to take place. League One is currently divided with some clubs wanting the season to be curtailed but other sides near the top of the division still want to complete the remaining games.

EFL need to grow some balls and just decided what is happening now and not drag this on anymore. We are in June potentially the season is still scheduled to start in august although that will more than likely be september now and clubs are going to want to know where they stand so they can start preparing themselves for the following season and address their budgets going forward till the defeceit is lowered from the covid effect.

dragging this out anylonger is going to cause more harm than good and clubs need to take a reality check and accept their fates.

Tgwu wrote:

NEW RULES to finish 2019/20 season

The first rule which has been made by the EFL is that clubs cannot approach players whose contracts expire on June 30 until June 24.

Clubs now also have until June 23 to offer players a new contract or release them – but they will be unable to play until the 2020/21 season starts, even if they secure a new club.

While players out of contract on June 30 will be able to sign a short-term extension which will run until the 2019/20 season is completed.

The EFL have also confirmed that these rules are in line with FIFA guidance in regards to the current Coronavirus pandemic.

This latest news will be a real boost to Championship clubs who feared losing key players due to the season now being completed at a later date but know they now at least have the option of retaining them as long as an agreement between the club and player can be agreed.

The EFL have confirmed that these proposals have been passed and will now be implemented. These new changes are most likely to affect teams in the Championship as this is the league in which football is most likely to resume.

League Two looks to be all but over albeit the EFL will need to confirm this in meetings soon to take place. League One is currently divided with some clubs wanting the season to be curtailed but other sides near the top of the division still want to complete the remaining games.

Do the rule makers live in the real world?

Is any half decent player going to sign a one month contract and risk being injured and left unemployed, just to play a few meaningless games to help out a Club he wants to leave?

Grovehill wrote:

Tgwu wrote:

NEW RULES to finish 2019/20 season

The first rule which has been made by the EFL is that clubs cannot approach players whose contracts expire on June 30 until June 24.

Clubs now also have until June 23 to offer players a new contract or release them – but they will be unable to play until the 2020/21 season starts, even if they secure a new club.

While players out of contract on June 30 will be able to sign a short-term extension which will run until the 2019/20 season is completed.

The EFL have also confirmed that these rules are in line with FIFA guidance in regards to the current Coronavirus pandemic.

This latest news will be a real boost to Championship clubs who feared losing key players due to the season now being completed at a later date but know they now at least have the option of retaining them as long as an agreement between the club and player can be agreed.

The EFL have confirmed that these proposals have been passed and will now be implemented. These new changes are most likely to affect teams in the Championship as this is the league in which football is most likely to resume.

League Two looks to be all but over albeit the EFL will need to confirm this in meetings soon to take place. League One is currently divided with some clubs wanting the season to be curtailed but other sides near the top of the division still want to complete the remaining games.

Do the rule makers live in the real world?

Is any half decent player going to sign a one month contract and risk being injured and left unemployed, just to play a few meaningless games to help out a Club he wants to leave?

some arent already especially at Charlton. Lyle Taylor stated this publically as he doesnt want to ruin any potential moves in the off season.

I think it's very clear players don't have to sign the extension, you can't make them.

Lyle Taylor might find his attitude and loyalty to a club....might effect possible clubs that are interested in him.

zyph wrote:

Lyle Taylor might find his attitude and loyalty to a club....might effect possible clubs that are interested in him.

Agreed, he is playing a dangerous game as if he doesnt get the move he wants, he is screwed otherwise.

zyph wrote:

Lyle Taylor might find his attitude and loyalty to a club....might effect possible clubs that are interested in him.

Bowyer has said that he will be getting a life changing move, and doesn't want to get injured to affect the new deal. He has been linked with Rangers and Celtic.

Angry wrote:

zyph wrote:

Lyle Taylor might find his attitude and loyalty to a club....might effect possible clubs that are interested in him.

Agreed, he is playing a dangerous game as if he doesnt get the move he wants, he is screwed otherwise.

More than likely already been tapped up or been made an offer. Out of contract players are free to negotiate with other clubs from 1st January

League One clubs set to vote to curtail season with only play-offs to be played and promotion and relegation decided by a points-per-game system

The four League One clubs who will occupy the play-off places on a points-per-game basis are now pressing ahead with plans for two-legged semi-finals.

Oxford United are set to play Portsmouth and Wycombe Wanderers will face Fleetwood Town when, as is expected, Tuesday’s vote determines that the League One season will be curtailed and only the play-offs will be played.

We can reveal that some of those clubs called their players in for Covid-19 testing on Thursday and will return to training on Monday.

Sources close to one of those clubs say they have been briefed on the understanding that the vote will see the season resolved by a points-per-game system with promotion and relegation.

That will mean Wycombe jump from eighth to third and dislodge Peterborough United from the final play-off position. Coventry City and Rotherham United will go up automatically.

At the other end of the table, Tranmere Rovers, Southend United and Bolton Wanderers will be relegated.

Tranmere are fighting their likely relegation by suggesting an alternative formula based on form over a longer period that would see them climb out of the drop zone.

However, one source close to the club says they are increasingly resigned to their fate.

Peterborough United to launch ‘Operation Vengeance’ as they prepare to place players and staff on furlough

Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony will launch ‘Operation Vengeance’ if the crunch League One vote goes against his club as expected next Tuesday (June 9)

MacAnthony remains angry with the EFL, and with rival football clubs who don’t want to play football, but he’s determined to channel his frustration into ensuring a Posh return to the Championship is only delayed by 12 months.

League One clubs are expected to vote to curtail the season early next week and use a points per game average to finalise league positions. As a result Posh would drop a place to seventh and miss out on the play-offs.

MacAnthony would then furlough the vast majority of his staff including the players, but he insists his club will survive the crisis and re-emerge as a potent League One force for the 2020-21 campaign which he expects to start at the end of September.

MacAntony, speaking on his ‘Hard Truth’ podcast, said: “We’re ready to be told we are all downing tools. Me and my co-owners have prepped for that.


“Sadly, if as expected things don’t go our way, we will now have to put most of the staff on furlough including the players. We have no choice if we are denied the chance to pay football. I don’t want people to lose jobs though.

“The owners spoke to the staff today. Not one of them moaned about our plans. They understand the fight we have shown as owners. I told them we are likely to suffer a great injustice, but when we come back in two months we must all be full of passion and desire to right this wrong. I know it’s a cliche but we are all in this together whether you are selling tickets, cutting the grass or you are a 25-goal striker.

“I’m calling next season the Vengeance Tour. We will have the largest chip ever seen on a shoulder. We will get a promotion push going. We know the players we want to sign and we know the players we will allow to go.

“The players are devastated aright now as they just wanted to play football. I’ve told the manager to take a long holiday and come back refreshed and raring to go. I hope we are back on July 31 ready for a two-month pre-season and the new season to start on September 30.


“It’s going to be a tough time for us all, but it won’t kill us. The club’s ambitions won’t change. The circumstances of the owners are not as good as they were, but we will get over that. We have a promotion to achieve and a new stadium to build.

“We need a strong EFL after this is over though. We need them to tell the clubs when we will start the new season and when we will know the fixtures. We can’t have any more of this voting nonsense. We can’t have clubs not wanting to play because they can’t have fans in the stadium. The EFL need to lead.”

Chief Executive Officer Bob Symns and director of football Barry Fry will continue working as part of a skeleton staff. Posh will top up the wages of their furloughed staff to ensue no-one loses out financially.

What a massive injustice it is to finish seventh lol. Everybody else's fault hey weren't good enough boo feckin hoo.

Why are they building a new stadium? London Road is fine and their modern main stand puts the mankover to shame, one of the new builds behind the old away terrace ain’t too shabby either. Beggars belief.

That macantony surely has one massive ego

only bad part about this is we wont sign copper but its small price to pay if it puts that arrogat prick Darragh MacAnthony in his place.

Third person tests positive for Covid 19 at Exeter City -

Following the latest round of testing of players, coaching and medical staff at Exeter City, one further individual has tested positive. They will now self isolate in accordance with protocols set out by the EFL.

This is the third set of tests carried out by the club as the players returned to training at the beginning of the week. As with the first two positive tests, the individual had not displayed any symptoms associated with Covid-19.

Tests are carried out twice a week at the Cliff Hill Training Ground, where players and staff are following strict guidance around training safely.

Exeter City FC will continue to respect medical confidentiality and will not be naming those involved.

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