EFL reveals plan to finish 2019-20 season in ‘56 days’

In an attempt to provide some clarity, chairman Rick Parry wrote to the 71 clubs yesterday advising they do not resume training together until May 16 at the earliest, and to therefore consider granting non-furloughed players and coaches annual leave. Different clubs suspended group training at different times because of the coronavirus outbreak, but for most that would represent a lay-off of around two months, longer than many summer breaks.

It has also been revealed the £125m advanced ahead of schedule by the Premier League to Football League and National League clubs is being withheld from Championship, League One and League Two clubs pending further talks with the players’ union on wages.

Firm plans are impossible until it is known when the Government will deem it safe to relax social distancing regulations. First Secretary Dominic Raab, deputising for the hospitalised Prime Minister, told yesterday’s news conference no decision on lifting the lockdown would be made before “the end of next week”.

However, Parry did outline some planning, which will affect Championship sides Barnsley, Huddersfield Town, Hull City, Leeds United, Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday, League One Doncaster Rovers and Rotherham United, and League Two Bradford City.

“Whenever the decision is taken that it is safe to resume, we currently estimate that the League will require approximately 56 days to complete the outstanding matches in the season (including play-offs) and we are committed to ensuring that clubs are provided an appropriate notice period,” he wrote.

“Clearly, we are in a position whereby the 2019-20 campaign will be extended, but still remain hopeful of a conclusion in the summer months.”

Scottish football was yesterday suspended until at least June 10.

There is a widespread view within the English game that if the season can be completed, it should be. The plan includes playing the play-offs in their usual format, which is good news for Doncaster and Bradford. Both have a chance of reaching their respective play-offs, but realistically not of going up if there was an extra automatic promotion spot instead.

The League has also warned: “It is our working assumption at this stage that matches will be played behind closed doors when we eventually return,” adding: “we are absolutely mindful of the need to try and mitigate the cost of this to clubs as best we can.”

Missing out on the revenue for remaining games will be a big blow to Football League clubs, some of whom may struggle to survive into next season. Leeds are better placed than many but based on the numbers in their 2018-19 accounts published this week, and the increase in attendances this season, each home game is worth around £550,000 to them, for example. Five of their nine outstanding fixtures are due to be played at Elland Road.

The Premier League has decided to advance some prize money and television fees worth around £20m each to help its clubs with cashflow problems. Clubs will also receive part of their funding for next season in the summer.

Adjustments will be made once the final table is decided.

Sheffield United are currently seventh, with each place in the division worth around £2m in prize money in the final analysis.

Seeing they were going to finish far higher than budgeted for, in January the Blades spent a club record £22m on midfielder Sander Berge, paid in instalments.

At the time of the coronavirus suspension, matches worth £762m under the top division’s various broadcast agreements were still to be delivered.

In contrast, the Football League is holding back money advanced by the Premier League “while additional clarity is sought on other financial matters, particularly in respect to player wages”.

Talks with the Professional Footballers’ Association aimed at a collective agreement on wage cuts or deferrals are continuing but have been inconclusive so far.

In the meantime, some clubs have acted. Doncaster are one of a number to furlough players, while Hull have requested theirs take a 20 per cent pay cut. As yet they have not agreed, although the coaching staff have.

Yesterday, Southampton became the first Premier League squad to agree a deferral, in their case 10 per cent, not the 30 the Premier League recommended last Friday. In addition, the Premier League players have set up #PlayersTogether, a charitable fund based on contributions to help those most closely involved in tackling covid-19.

Former Sheffield United and Hull defender Harry Maguire, now at Manchester United, is one of four Premier League captains who will administer the fund.