Decisions being made

[Jas79]

The Artell interview (via zoom) is on twitter in full. Worth a listen but doesnt give much detail re L2 and NL. Artell is mainly interested in the other end of L2!

[chipmunx]

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).

I think the one up instead of two is IF the NL null and Voids the league - which would mean there was no basis for direct promotion or relegation between the EFL and NL.

[Suffolk Blue]

Problem is that the NL have already stated that they intend to await the decision from the EFL (quite rightly). So it cant announce a decision until the EFL does because if it did and that were a coincidental outcome, both associations could face a challenge based on pretty blatant collusion.

So the EFL has to go first unless the NL are even bigger idiots than some of us think. As soon as the EFL laid down their "half" of this equation they would expose themselves potentially to a legal challenge. There'll probably be a legal challenge from someone whatever their decision but they'll stand a better chance of defeating it if they stay within their regulations as far as they can.

So legal challenge one typically involves Stevenage being relegated and seeking to overturn the decision. Stevenage would have been relegated or "retired" under the rules of the EFL - to which they have explicitly previously subscribed. They might argue that current circumstances were unique and therefore were not covered in the EFL regulations. However as far as I can this would not invalidate those regulations that could reasonably be applied as long as due process can be demonstrated in applying them. That being the case, the only arguments probably open to the plaintiff would be either that the season should be voided, or that a "merited" outcome should be allowed that would differentiate between promotion and relegation. In spite of this being in contravention of EFL regulations.

Legal challenge 2 involves Stevenage being reprieved and an NL club seeking to prevent this happening. All the above criteria still apply. So the EFL is left to justify what in the first scenario Stevenage would have to - i.e. that you can have a different interpretation of relegation in League 1 and League 2. In this instance of course the EFL is not defending its own rules as in the first scenario but is having to explain why it is apparently contradicting them.

To me of the situations that the EFL could find itself in, the second scenario looks bar far the weaker position. Hence why I'd be surprised if they went in that direction.

[Tommylad]

"League One & Two clubs will meet tomorrow to further discuss how to end the season.

It seems increasingly likely a decision will be made to end the season.

The National League is waiting for a decision on League 2 before deciding the outcomes of their leagues"

[chipmunx]

If we keep saying we'll probably "find out next week" then one of these weeks we'll be right...

[barrowfan]

The resolution that seems to be coming to the fore for the Preiership is to play out the season as soon as the all clear is given, have a short break and start next season

[Suffolk Blue]

Question is, when they do make a decision will we actually recognise it?

Think Tommylad is about right though. Signalling the L1/L2 season is over would be a development. Bit like the NL and EFL though L1/L2 cant make a decision on promotion and relegation without the Championship leading them. So it'll be a case of "over to you Claude".

[philbrownstan]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52665805

Govt agree for football restart in principle. Be intresting to see if it'll just be prem and championship or filter further down to L1&2

[goalie6789]

So how does playing behind closed doors dovetail into "widening access for fans to view live coverage".

Surely people will crowd into the venue making a nonsense of social distancing.

[Nigel Bamford]

So how does playing behind closed doors dovetail into "widening access for fans to view live coverage".

Surely people will crowd into the venue making a nonsense of social distancing.

Television, presumably. The interesting little snippet from that article was this : "...ensure finances from the game's resumption supports the wider football family". If that means a bit of cash for our club then, great.

[Suffolk Blue]

So how does playing behind closed doors dovetail into "widening access for fans to view live coverage".

Surely people will crowd into the venue making a nonsense of social distancing.

Television, presumably. The interesting little snippet from that article was this : "...ensure finances from the game's resumption supports the wider football family". If that means a bit of cash for our club then, great.

Any notion that L2 is going to play out its remaining fixtures would send Mr Tattersall at the NL into a bit of a tailspin methinks. Doubt it will happen though. We might find that out tomorrow.

[behind the goals]

Six league One clubs want to play the remaining fixtures, when will this soap opera end getting beyond a joke now.

[Hitthebar22]

Six league One clubs want to play the remaining fixtures, when will this soap opera end getting beyond a joke now.

The answer to your question is, as several of us have been saying repetitively for a number of weeks, not until the Premier League decide their own way forward, particularly regarding relegation. Thereafter the English Football League will follow suit, and they will make decisions regarding promotion and relegation in the three leagues over which they exercise control, but it’s facile because they will fit in with what the PL has decided and juggle things accordingly. The National League will fit in with the EFL, and will do nothing meaningful until they (EFL) have made their decision. It’s pretty straightforward and uncomplicated. Money (PL) is dictating the play. It’s a waiting game dominated by the (financially) powerful. Sadly like most things in life.

[Jas79]

Seems likely that PL and Championship will get back underway. Whether L1 and L2 go the same way depends upon how much those with something to gain can argue for it vs those who just want null and void to avoid further costs.

Doesnt seem much appetite for ppg or using current league positions. EFL consider that players can be required to play up until end of July due to severance clause in contracts even if out of contract in June.

Not sure where this would leave NL.

[Suffolk Blue]

Seems likely that PL and Championship will get back underway. Whether L1 and L2 go the same way depends upon how much those with something to gain can argue for it vs those who just want null and void to avoid further costs.

Doesnt seem much appetite for ppg or using current league positions. EFL consider that players can be required to play up until end of July due to severance clause in contracts even if out of contract in June.

Not sure where this would leave NL.

The EFL cannot finish in one division and null and void in another. If the Championship does not void, neither can L1 and L2. Simples.