Thomas praises rival teams for putting own interests aside as League One clubs 'scream and shout'

The 24 clubs were all in favour of curtailing the season immediately and deciding the league table on a points-per-game basis when they met last Friday.

Port Vale and Bradford City were among those clubs to support the proposals despite both narrowly missing out on the play-offs. Vale were just a point behind the Cobblers when the season was suspended in mid-March while Bradford were a further three adrift.

However, both clubs now accept that the financial challenges are just too great and their promotion hopes are over for another year, a move that was praised by Thomas.

He said: "We've obviously had to fast forward but it's like most other normal seasons because when you get to the end of any season, some people are disappointed and some people are happy.

"That frustration will be felt more so now because we haven't actually played all the games, but this is an unprecedented situation and something we've never dealt with previously. As clubs and leagues and administrators, we're just trying to figure out the best way forward.

"You have to give Port Vale and Bradford credit in voting for the collective and for the bigger picture and seeing how important that is because they've been impacted the most by the decision in terms of not quite getting into the play-offs.

"Even Exeter and Cheltenham had a shout of automatic promotion but they'll now have to play in the play-offs so they took a similar sort of decision when it came to the vote. It's not an easy decision for anyone."

There is less unity in League One where six promotion-chasing clubs, including Peterborough United, Sunderland and Ipswich, have come together as one to demand the season is finished or the play-offs are extended to more than four teams.

Peterborough, who would miss out on the play-offs if a similar points-per-game method is used, have been most vocal with chairman Darragh MacAnthony threatening legal action if his club’s chances of promotion are dashed.

Thomas added: "League One have got similar challenges ahead of them because it's very tight at the top of that division and there are some clubs screaming and shouting about how they want the table to be finished and how the play-offs should be played.

"It's not going to be easy for anyone and for teams and clubs that have nothing to play for, it's disappointing for them too because the season just fizzles out, but the reality is it would have been a huge financial challenge to finish the season.

"We're talking a lot of money for clubs to finish the season and if you haven't got much to play for, it's very difficult to see how you can justify that."