Null and void 'not an option' for Adams

Cobblers winger Nicky Adams admits the governing bodies face a 'very difficult situation' as they seek to navigate through the coronavirus pandemic, but he insists whatever happens the current season must not be nulled and voided.

Putting matches behind closed doors seems the most likely option at present but even that is not guaranteed given the financial problems it would cause, particularly to clubs in the lower league.

If the season cannot be completed, one option might be to follow Scotland who last week voted to end the Professional Football League season outside the top flight with immediate effect.

Dundee United have been declared as Championship winners with Raith Rovers and Cove Rangers winning Leagues One and Two respectively. If that were to happen in the EFL, Swindon, Crewe and Plymouth would be promoted out of League Two.

That's hardly an ideal solution though and would upset many clubs, including the Cobblers who are currently in the play-offs and have a shot at promotion.

Asked about playing behind closed doors, Adams said: "The other thing is, would you get fixtures fulfilled? Imagine if we play eight or nine games and then a game gets called off because someone gets ill and they can't put the game on.

"It's a very difficult situation but the EFL and PFA will have to come up with a way of sorting that out. Do we go down Scotland's route?

"I don't have the answers. No-one does. In an ideal scenario, we say we play in June and fans can come back in and watch but you've got to be careful because you don't want to impact next season either.

"Fans travel up and down the country to watch their team but in the short-term they'll have to look at it because null and void is not an option for me.

"I don't think you can reward teams that don't deserve it and you also don't want to punish teams at the top who have had a great season. If we can't finish, are they going to follow Scotland and put teams up? I don't know.

"They'll have to make a decision soon and then we'll have to take it from there."