31 Mar 2020 21:02:35
Hi Ed,

Thanks for keeping up the site in this unprecedented period, I'm sure everyone on here appreciates your efforts at keeping us as informed as possible.

The the question of the what happens with next season has been done to death, and is still such an unknown until we get a bit of clarity on Friday.

I did see something today though doing the rounds (in the Echo, not always the most trusted), saying that the Premier League could now not make any decision in regards to promotion/ relegation without the agreement of the FA League Committee and the EFL.

I was wondering if this was true?

Cheers.

{Ed002's Note - The three parties would need to agree if the leagues cannot be completed or if the Bundesliga model were applied - where there would be portion through the leagues but no relegation.}

31 Mar 2020 22:27:02
On next season Ed002, why don’t they just work on the worse case for resumption, I. e. beginning of June to finish mid July (providing they can sort extending player contracts a month and all the other complications)?

That way there is clarity, if it can’t be resumed by that date it’s done, they can effectively plan for those dates based on a restart. And gives players the ability to know, if the virus subsides, when they are likely to resume.

Even if the virus is on the downward peak before then I’m pretty sure it isn’t the biggest deal that there is no football until June. I don’t rather air on the side of caution rather than rush football, or any sport back.

I just don’t see the benefit of trying to get it started ASAP. Work on the worst case for all competitions then have the back up plans, I. e. lose CL and EL, then move domestic competitions to the start of next season. Usually the early weeks are a game a week so mid weeks would be free, although I’ll be honest I doubt that is an option.

Apologies if I am taking an over simplistic view on this, it’s just if it was me i would go with a set date, that teams and organisations can work around rather than hoping it will be ok in a month which looks unlikely,

{Ed002's Note - That would be complicated and world need the help of FIFA. Nobody is looking to rush back. I am not sure who you think is looking to restart ASAP.}

01 Apr 2020 10:08:46
Sorry didn’t explain myself very well, I mean the likes of the PL going from the original 3rd of April date to the 30th, and now likely to go back again.

If it was me I would now go to the worse case date, whatever that may be, and if that one becomes impossible then go down the routes that you have mentioned previously.
Bundesligas approach or Seria A’s.

On a separate point it looks like we are going to lose a few football clubs due to this.

{Ed002's Note - The Premier League would need to have the approval of FIFA if they were to continue after June 30. Right now everybody remains committed to try and finish their season and all I expect to happen on Friday is that they will slide the "expected/not before" return date back. They are not going to start guessing at the "worse date" situation as nobody knows. The "elite" European sides met on Monday and polled the sides to ask what they would like to do regarding this season. The Italian FF met twice on Monday and have a mix of opinions. UEFA are meeting today but they will focus on other matters. The Premier League will meet Friday and several other related representatives will be available but for know I dooubt show-stopping of binding decisions will be made.

As for losing clubs, I have explained before that I do not see that so many pro sides can be sustained from a financial perspective within the sport which, like it or not, will see more and more money going in to the highest levels of the game. Governments will ensure that grassroots sport get funding but everything in the middle (Southern, Northern, Conference, Division 2, Scottish Divisions 1-3, League of Wales may not get the funding needed to continue on any sort of professional basis. For me, clubs should already recognise this and put their efforts in to getting there finances in order to see if they can make it to a British professional league that will need to flourish without perhaps six sides that have eventually gone down the pan-European route - and have gone for good (it would be two or perhaps three initially) - and those who are simply not financially available and either slip away completely or have to press resetand start again way down the pyramid of leagues. This situtaion we have now will likely topple a few over the edge.}

01 Apr 2020 11:02:24
It is like everything else in life money talks so long as this pandemic is on the way out and people get the chance however slight of normality then it will boil down to money.

{Ed002's Note - I don't understand your point.}

01 Apr 2020 12:36:49
I think pushing back the expected return date is the most sensible option at the moment, we just need to ensure everyone is safe and be patient. Ed has said it over and over, they are doing everything they can to try and finish the season.