League two clubs vote to end season

[upthemaggies]

I half heard?

You have advocated that we should do everything and anything to get promotion.

This 'depth of self-interest' works two ways doesn't it?

I heard what was said but didn't catch who it was, hence the qualification.
I've always said we should play to a conclusion, or at least a revised play off system, when it's safe to do so.
If other clubs refuse to do that when we are willing to do so, then we should play them at their own game and go in hard.

[Woodypie]

The Football League, in acting in a contrary manner to the Premiership, Championship and even League One, would be liable to face legal action on the basis of Natural Law, if it chose to show bias by simply selecting Barrow for promotion. It is indeed a society that sets its own rules but that does not give it impunity to act illegally.

[navypie]

I half heard somebody talking on talkSport this morning. a clip of a chairman or some official during the news round up saying "It wouldn't be fair to relegate Stevenage and promote an extra club". I've heard some BS during this crisis but that takes it to a whole new level. Where does the word "Extra" come from? It's been two up from non-league for years, that was the rule we were all playing to from the start of the campaign to the moment it was suspended. The depths of self interest people are prepared to go, in sacrificing the actual game of football in favour of a random cut off point that suits them is staggering. There's a whole bunch of clubs joining my strongly dislike list alongside Fword.

They are saying the fairest way to decide things is PPG ratio, fair enough. Hold up, they are saying this wouldn't be fair on Stevenage, which is it?

[upthemaggies]

They are saying the fairest way to decide things is PPG ratio, fair enough. Hold up, they are saying this wouldn't be fair on Stevenage, which is it?

Charlton would go down on PPG, which would be outrageous when they were about to play the team directly above them (who'd lost all of their last four) in the very next game.

We have to play off, clubs who refuse can either forfeit the chance of going up or (if they are in danger of going down) be docked points.

If there are no play-offs and everything is decided by vote (which would be about as credible as a Eurovision song contest vote, as everybody votes according to self interest or who they do or don't like) then we could well be seeing a situation in 2020/21 where clubs seek to take advantage from either a 2nd wave or covid cases in their league - by demanding a suspension and then another early cancellation. It's a total farce that has got nothing to do with football.

[Oldstripy]

Reaction of League two season ending team by team.

It is too big for me to cut & paste.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52689622

[1955pie]

What about if no-one went down from League 2 but 2 teams still went up out of the National League. Next season 3 teams to go down from League 2. Seems a lot fairer. It would only mean 2 extra games for the season per club but would also give some protection in terms of matchday income in the event of a club going bust. The numbers in each league would be adjusted at the end of next season.

[upthemaggies]

What about if no-one went down from League 2 but 2 teams still went up out of the National League. Next season 3 teams to go down from League 2. Seems a lot fairer. It would only mean 2 extra games for the season per club but would also give some protection in terms of matchday income in the event of a club going bust. The numbers in each league would be adjusted at the end of next season.

You mean have 26 teams in league two next season or nobody gets relegated from L1 and above either? (so Prem League 22, the rest 24)

The latter idea still looks a strong possibility, the former potentially has its' problems (serious fixture pile up after a 2nd wave).
I think the clubs that are still deemed to have a realistic chance of staying up or dropping into the relegation zone should play off. Bolton and Southend should definitely be demoted.

[1955pie]

No, only 25 in League 2 because Bury won't be there. Leagues above would could still have their normal arrangement. If the Premier League did have 2 more teams next season like you suggest then that would make for a 94 team setup. That would mean 3 teams up from the National League. League numbers to go back to 92 at the end of next season. ie 4 teams down from League 2

[1955pie]

I can't see the Premier League wanting extra matches though, so I think the idea of a 25 team League 2 seems much more do-able and fairer.
Just need the National League to commit to some form of play offs.

[upthemaggies]

No, only 25 in League 2 because Bury won't be there. Leagues above would could still have their normal arrangement. If the Premier League did have 2 more teams next season like you suggest then that would make for a 94 team setup. That would mean 3 teams up from the National League. League numbers to go back to 92 at the end of next season. ie 4 teams down from League 2

I keep forgetting there's only 23 clubs in L2.
25 would mean another season of one team going without a game each week, which wouldn't be ideal. I expect the Premier League's decision on whether to relegate or not will dictate what everybody else does. Every week there seems to be a meeting by some league or other but everything is still up in the air, if anything it just seems to create even more uncertainty and confusion. If only there had been a rule in place beforehand, surely they will have to insert one in before the next campaign begins.