Decisions being made

[Suffolk Blue]

Serious subject but this made me smile.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52645339

Norwich appear to be one of the first teams to articulate Stage 3 of their defence against relegation. Unlike their woeful performances on the pitch which would in most peoples estimation have meant certain relegation should the season have lasted just a few more weeks, Norwich are definitely keeping up with the pace when it comes to stating reasons why this should mean that they dont get relegated.

Stage 1 was essentially "We cant finish, we need to scrap the season and start again. We cannot be relegated!". Then voiding gradually became a taboo subject.

Stage 2 was then quickly wheeled out. This was based on "No way should we play at neutral venues. This would concede home advantage and be unfair So if we have to do this we cannot be relegated!" Now it appears neutral venues will not be required with the responsibility lumped onto the police.

Stage 3 has been unveiled in double quick time. "Unless the Championship finish all their matches its not fair. We cannot be relegated!"

If only they could've been as sharp and responsive on the field of play they might not have had to be so adept off it.

[Suffolk Blue]

Scenario: Premier League starts up again. Some Liverpool stars refuse to play. Man City start to win games. Depleted Liverpool go on a losing streak. Man City win the league by one point. These are strange days indeed my brothers and sisters.

Alternate scenario: Pumped up Liverpool seeking to fulfil their destiny and win the Premier League for the first time, steamroller somewhat disinterested opponents in double quick time.

I believe in strange WG, but not really in miracles.

[goalie6789]

Scenario: Premier League starts up again. Some Liverpool stars refuse to play. Man City start to win games. Depleted Liverpool go on a losing streak. Man City win the league by one point. These are strange days indeed my brothers and sisters.

Can you let me have some of what you're on please?

[whitty1969]

Championship sides to resume training.
Leagues 1 & 2 to make decision on Friday??

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52651502

[Suffolk Blue]

Championship sides to resume training.
Leagues 1 & 2 to make decision on Friday??

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52651502

League 2 clubs have a meeting scheduled for Friday. Not sure about League 1 who seem to be more closely tied to the Championship for obvious reasons. That decision from the Championship follows a meeting that Rick Parry had with HMG and the FA today I think. Keeping in step with the Premier League is the way to go.

On a slightly different point and with every man and his dog giving chapter and verse on what must, should or should not happen it is worth reading Regulations 10, 11 and 12 of Section 3 (Pertaining to the League), of the EFL Regulations - not because they are a particularly good read - though there are several enlightening bits in there - but because they do lay out the obligations of the EFL in relation to promotion and relegation. In this respect, its important to stress the difference between regulations and rules because there are significant differences. A good definition I have found is as follows:

Difference Between Rules and Regulations
Definition. Rules refer to prescribed guidelines for conduct/action or regulating principles whereas regulations refer to rules or orders issued by an executive authority or regulatory agency
Usage. The term rules can be used in a general sense whereas regulations can only be used in a legal sense.
Nature. Another difference between rules and regulations is that rules can be adjusted accordingly whereas regulations are rigid and can not be altered or adjusted unless by the legislature.

The key point here is that as these are regulations, the EFL is legally bound to its own words and that many of the more unusual suggestions we've heard over the last few weeks from people within the NL community would never have been allowable under the current EFL rules. As an example the EFL regulations would specifically prohibit the NL changing the current format of play-offs because whilst this is allowed for in principle, the regulation specifically states that a change in format can only be introduced prior to a season commencing.

So the notion that BAFC could be included in some form of single spot or modified play-off despite not being in a play-off position for example could never have happened without the EFL going through a specific process of changing its regulations which it clearly doesn't have the time or inclination to do. Other than to declare on merit or void the NL have in truth always had very few real options if it wanted to preserve it promotion ambitions.

[chipmunx]

another post on the one football forum - League 2 section (from a Crewe fan)...

A reliable journo I know who spoke to Artell (Crewe manager) this week and the Board allegedly reckons the following will happen.

- League Two cancelled by a large majority Friday, hence the last few clubs are digging up pitches and preparing the release lists.

- Top 3 automatically promoted and will be replaced by the Bottom 3 from League One whether Tranmere like it or not.

- One legged playoffs set to be an idea on the table. As said before, this will be more popular as Sky will get to broadcast the matches, Exeter wont take the battle to Court and only Vale and to a lesser extent Bradford will have a major gripe with it. But given there's a 75% chance of failure, I don't think they'd have any grounds to take legal action anyway.

- Barrow will be promoted to League Two even in the case of a Null and Void season down below. Harrogate don't look likely to be promoted. Could this be due to the fact most non league sides are favouring a null and void season? There's far less financial and legal risk for them if they void the season and Barrow take their place in the higher level. Notts fans will kick up a fuss but it's all hot air and entitlement.

[Desmond2-2]

I am bored shitless of this whole saga, no one organisation prepared to make a decision.

[Wintergreen]

Everyone is waiting for the PL to make their move; but they themselves are in unchartered territory and are probably monitoring the Bundesliga. So the wait goes on.

[Wintergreen]

Scenario: Premier League starts up again. Some Liverpool stars refuse to play. Man City start to win games. Depleted Liverpool go on a losing streak. Man City win the league by one point. These are strange days indeed my brothers and sisters.

Can you let me have some of what you're on please?

Go to your GP; tell him you are a Barrow supporter, he/she will send you to a specialist unit in the Pharmacy. Once there it is basically like the old pick n mix in Woolies.

[Suffolk Blue]

Can you let me have some of what you're on please?

Go to your GP; tell him you are a Barrow supporter, he/she will send you to a specialist unit in the Pharmacy. Once there it is basically like the old pick n mix in Woolies.

In these very dangerous times WG you should not be bothering your hard working GP with this syndrome or Psycho-Barrovia complex as I think its known. Give NHS 111 a ring instead. Better still avail yourself of any number of fine ales from the local Bargain Booze !

[HenneysKnee]

So is that Crewe fan claiming there will be relegation from League One but not from League Two??

[chipmunx]

So is that Crewe fan claiming there will be relegation from League One but not from League Two??

here's part of a later post from the same fan;-

Artell also hinted that Stevenage would be reprieved (which many fans would be against I'm sure) but additionally hinted that Barrow would be invited to the league next season and League One's bottom 3 would still be relegated. If Artell is correct, then that would imply the National League and its sides may favour a complete null and voiding of the regular season rather than finishing on PPG, thus freezing all its sides in each of the three divisions.

However, the EFL would reserve the right to invite Barrow to become a member, being the top club in the non league game before suspension, into the league system to fill the gap left by Bury. Barrow would no doubt accept this, and it may cause fume in the Notts County camp especially, given some of their fans have a warped idea that, by finishing 23rd in League Two the season before, that place in the league is rightfully theirs. But there'd be no grounds for legal action. The NL will have voided the season and the EFL would've exercised a right to invite a member of their choice. So they'd have to lump it.

[Bingo]

It void our league would be total stupidity if elf don't - it would put at threat the promotion places between the national league and the football league

[chipmunx]

It void our league would be total stupidity if elf don't - it would put at threat the promotion places between the national league and the football league

I agree - but there are too many teams who are only thinking of themselves - so it may happen - and the NL committee may let it if they get guarantees from the EFL that they will keep 2 promotion places - as the EFL going down the invite route stops any legal challenges from clubs.

[Suffolk Blue]

So is that Crewe fan claiming there will be relegation from League One but not from League Two??

here's part of a later post from the same fan;-

Artell also hinted that Stevenage would be reprieved (which many fans would be against I'm sure) but additionally hinted that Barrow would be invited to the league next season and League One's bottom 3 would still be relegated. If Artell is correct, then that would imply the National League and its sides may favour a complete null and voiding of the regular season rather than finishing on PPG, thus freezing all its sides in each of the three divisions.

However, the EFL would reserve the right to invite Barrow to become a member, being the top club in the non league game before suspension, into the league system to fill the gap left by Bury. Barrow would no doubt accept this, and it may cause fume in the Notts County camp especially, given some of their fans have a warped idea that, by finishing 23rd in League Two the season before, that place in the league is rightfully theirs. But there'd be no grounds for legal action. The NL will have voided the season and the EFL would've exercised a right to invite a member of their choice. So they'd have to lump it.

Well I'm tempted to say that anything that gets us up will do.

But I'm also tempted to say that this could just be another theory which sounds good because it seems to take out several known issues both in the EFL and NL. So you can see it as "clean". I could also see the NL going for it (as a majority).

On closer examination however it isn't quite as straight forward as it might look. It would involve the EFL varying their interpretation of their own regulations between promotion and relegation. Whilst their regulations seem to allow them discretion over the format of (their) play-offs I dont see anything that allows them discretion over relegation. Their regulations clearly state 2 up, 2 down. I wonder whether the Bury situation is influencing a few minds here.

Clearly Stevenage are not themselves a special case. So if they are not careful the EFL will find themselves in direct contravention of their own rules, using a the current situation to justify different actions that are contradictory. Perhaps the feeling is that by making this decision the EFL wont find itself in court. All I would say to that is, the view that NL clubs such as Harrogate and Notts County do not have the wherewithal to challenge an EFL decision may be a rather stereotypical view from above.

The guidance to the EFL should always have been and should remain stay within your regulations (even if it hurts).