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Adam Pope: Trusted source has told me nine-game finish to EFL season put forward on Friday
BBC journalist Adam Pope has said that one of his trusted sources said that an idea to finish the current seasons in the EFL early and to end with play-offs was “mooted” on Friday.
That comes after the Guardian had reported that the Championship’s contingency – if games couldn’t be finished – was to promote Leeds and West Brom and stage a three-game play-off to determine the third play-off place.
Pope has said that this plan has now been put forward for all the EFL leagues, including Leagues One and Two.
Pope said it would reduce the risk from Coronavirus as it would mean a nine-game finish to the season across the whole of the EFL.
Hi Rob. Interestingly someone I trust was suggesting this was being mooted yesterday but across Lge 1 & 2 as well as Champ as it clearly reduces the risk due to a nine game finish to the season.
— Adam Pope (@apopey) May 1, 2020
This alternative plan would obviously suit Leeds. And other teams currently in the top-two spots, like Coventry City, who would come up to the Championship.
However, there are complications.
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It’s a straightforward affair in the Championship as everyone has played the same number of games.
However, the same isn’t true across the lower leagues. Wycombe Wanderers are outside of the play-off spots at the moment but are on the same points as sixth-placed Peterborough and have a game in hand.
Those issues would either have to be sorted by points-per-game or by playing any games in hand that could have an effect on the top six.
Leeds fans will be feeling especially raw today as it was set to be the final game of the season.
Leeds United should have been playing Charlton at Elland Road and it would likely have been another party at a sell-out stadium and the last game in the Championship for the Whites with promotion already confirmed.
Instead, we’re still looking at ways that Leeds can get promoted, either on the pitch or off it. This alternative plan is one of the latter ones, which would see Leeds promoted without kicking another ball.
In other Leeds United news – Reliable journalist: EFL likely to end leagues ‘soon’; plan to promote Leeds & West Brom dead