Clubs in League One and Two set for crunch meeting

The season could be ended by a vote next week.

Clubs in both divisions are said to be divided over whether or not to restart the season or scrap it altogether and focus on next season.

Six League One clubs, including promotion-chasing trio Peterborough, Oxford and Sunderland, are pushing for the season to restart and be played to a conclusion, however there is mounting support for all remaining matches to be abandoned due to the financial costs involved.

Peterborough owner Darragh MacAnthony, whose club are sixth, was speaking on behalf of teams outside the automatic promotion places, currently held by Coventry and Rotherham, when he took to Twitter on Thursday.

He said: “We as a collective are united in our goal to finish this season. We have no desire for voiding the season, the PPG scenario is letting a computer decide our football fate.”

Portsmouth CEO Mark Catlin added: "From our point of view, we understand the difficulties that there are going to be to get this season completed, but we feel we owe it to our supporters, staff and football, in general, to do everything that we can to achieve a result via what goes on, on the pitch."

Accrington Stanley owner Andy Holt took a very different view though. He said: “If you’re looking for sporting integrity, you need to look everywhere else with a fine-tooth comb ... and when you find none, look at football.

“Expect to be disappointed. It’s about money. It’s a financial war, not a sporting battle Further up, it gets worse. Let them play a mini-tournament to decide places. Find another way EFL. Do not burn skint clubs' cash!”

League Two clubs are also split with many believed to want an immediate curtailment to the season, but only last week chairman Kelvin Thomas confirmed the Cobblers would still like to play their remaining nine fixtures.

"We have to look at health and safety first and we'll always take that approach but I spoke to all the players and the good thing is, from our perspective as a football club, they are willing to get going as quickly as possible once restrictions have been lifted," said Thomas.

"They feel like they've got a job to do and they want to get on with it and finish the season - and that's still our mindset as a club because we want to finish the season, but it has to be safe."

A vote on whether the season should continue or not is expected to take place early next week. It will require a majority of clubs - 75 per cent across all three divisions - to end the season.

Meanwhile, also on Thursday, the government said it has 'opened the door' for professional football to return next month. Culture secretary Oliver Dowden said: "We all agreed that we will only go ahead if it is safe to do so and the health and welfare of players, coaches and staff comes first.

"It is now up to the football authorities to agree and finalise the detail of their plans, and there is combined goodwill to achieve this for their fans, the football community and the nation as a whole. The government and our medical experts will continue to offer guidance and support."