Women's Championship decision a blow to Sheffield United but perhaps more to Barnsley's men

The Football Association board's decision to press ahead with relegation despite the season not being completed is a blow to Barnsley's hopes of arguing there should be no demotion from the men's Championship if all 46 matches are not played there. That in turn is good news for Leeds United and Rotherham United.

Carla Ward's Blades were the closest challengers to Villa when the league was suspended in mind-March because of the coronavirus pandemic, but six points adrift with six matches to play, it was inevitable they would not go up once no more football could be played. Only one team was supposed to be promoted at the start of the campaign.

Having officially called a halt last week, the FA Board have now decided how best to decide the Super League and Championship seasons.

Even with the season incomplete, the Football Association was keen to resolve matter son the basis of sporting merit, which will presumably strengthen their resolve to do so if needed in the men's game.

A majority decided to opt for a straight points-per-game basis which did not take into account how many games each side had played home or away.

As a result, Chelsea have been crowned Super League champions for the third time, and will be nominated for next season's Champions League, alongside Manchester City. Villa were the second-tier champions, and will win promotion, with Liverpool relegation.

The Reds had played 14 of their 22 scheduled league games.

In the men's game, Rotherham are second in League One on an unweighted points-per-game basis, and would therefore be in line for automatic promotion under the formula if, as expected, the division is abandoned in Tuesday's meeting, where alternative proposals would be discussed for the Football League.

With all clubs having played 37 games, Leeds United are currently top of the men's Championship and Barnsley bottom, but the intention is to restart on June 20. Huddersfield Town, Middlesbrough and Hull City are all within three points of the relegation zone with nine matches remaining.

Sheffield United would be sixth in the Premier League but again, they aim to resume with the Blades' trip to Aston Villa on June 17.

Editor’s note: first and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

Almost certainly you are here because you value the quality and the integrity of the journalism produced by The Yorkshire Post’s journalists - almost all of which live alongside you in Yorkshire, spending the wages they earn with Yorkshire businesses - who last year took this title to the industry watchdog’s Most Trusted Newspaper in Britain accolade.

And that is why I must make an urgent request of you: as advertising revenue declines, your support becomes evermore crucial to the maintenance of the journalistic standards expected of The Yorkshire Post. If you can, safely, please buy a paper or take up a subscription. We want to continue to make you proud of Yorkshire’s National Newspaper but we are going to need your help.

Postal subscription copies can be ordered by calling 0330 4030066 or by emailing [email protected]. Vouchers, to be exchanged at retail sales outlets - our newsagents need you, too - can be subscribed to by contacting subscriptions on 0330 1235950 or by visiting www.localsubsplus.co.uk where you should select The Yorkshire Post from the list of titles available.

If you want to help right now, download our tablet app from the App / Play Stores. Every contribution you make helps to provide this county with the best regional journalism in the country.

Sincerely. Thank you.

James Mitchinson

Editor