Benno Spire, on 26 March 2020 - 11:05 AM, said:
Unfortunately there will be winners and losers for every decision.
Personally I would have liked this season to have come to a natural conclusion but as each day goes by this is looking even more increasingly unlikely.
From a clubs point of view they have to consider player contracts, but also the impact of lost match day income.
If the season is stopped there will be a lot of players suddenly out of work as clubs will not rush to sign players until they know what is happening in relation to a date for the new season starting.
You could argue that for the sake of the players the season is concluded as the clubs may be able to access the Government and FA support to extend player contracts.
Clubs who have many injured players will be happy they would be able to return if a season is extended and squads could look very different so is this fair?
Possible scenarios.
Void existing season.
Season finished based on current position and points per game added where clubs have played less games.
Void existing season and use a mathematical formulae to award handicap points for next season based on points gained this season.
Create a mathematical algorithm to calculate final points tally taking into account seasonal form and form over the last 8 games.
The complication will be playoffs and it may be these are scrapped for this season in favour of the old fashioned promotion and relegation.
I for one would not like to be involved in the decision making especially as decisions will need to be taken without knowing a possible new start date.
As always every fan and club will favour any decision that benefits their team.
So for me, void the season and start again as this benefits Chesterfield.
I would have thought CFC are likely to benefit from most decisions. Our average points to date keeps us up. Our form over the last 8 games is better than a lot. Our current league position is above the bottom four.
On the downside, if the season is re-started at sometime in the future we cannot be promoted but we could get relegated. Unless there are some acceptable rules put in place regarding players contracts and club squads then I feel restarting the season a few months from now is the most unfair decision of the lot. Most clubs could start the mini-end-to-season season with unrecognisable teams to the ones which have played previously in the same season.
Another thought, if it was deemed that Harrogate, for instance, are promoted they play on plastic. If they can't get contractors to change their pitch to proper grass during the current climate will the EFL bend it's rules and allow them in? If they do then they could be deemed to be playing next season at an advantage over other clubs in that division. If they are refused they might say they were going to make the appropriate upgrade but couldn't get it done because of coronavirus and, as such, are being treated unfairly.
I tend to feel that voiding the season is fair to everyone but I do think there is an argument that each league should be made up to it's normal number if teams follow Bury and cannot continue financially.