Deadlock continues as Portsmouth given date for potential EFL proposal vote
Monday, June 8, has been identified as the date for Pompey and their League One counterparts to decide the fate of the 2019-20 season.
At the latest EFL board meeting on Wednesday, alternative submissions to the league’s recommended framework were discussed.
However, it was ‘unanimously’ decided to progress with the plan released last week that included promotion, relegation and play-offs if the campaign was curtailed.
While the EFL remains committed to fulfilling remaining fixtures, it will bring the current term to a premature end should 51 per cent of clubs choose to do so.
League positions would then be decided by an unweighted points-per-game method, with Pompey projected to finish fifth in the table.
Proposals will now be sent to clubs to consider before they reconvene on June 8.
Any club that wishes to propose an alternative ‘regulation change’ has until Tuesday, June 2.
Teams will then receive a notice to consider the original proposal and any further qualifying regulation change proposals.
As a consequence, it means the deadlock continues, with Kenny Jackett and his players set for another week of uncertainty.
League One clubs have been split on a way forward.
Like the EFL, the Blues want to finish the season on the pitch.
But Pompey chief executive Mark Catlin told The News he fears time is running out to achieve that objective.
It’s expected the Championship will recommence, but League Two clubs have already unanimously decided to curtail their season.
A statement from the EFL read: ‘At the same time as advising on its proposed approach last week, the board had asked clubs to give it appropriate consideration and provide any feedback.
‘Communications were submitted from clubs across all divisions and those proposals, some of which have been made available publicly, suggested how the framework in the event the season is ended prematurely could alternatively work.
‘A decision on whether or not to curtail the season is a matter to be considered by clubs in any affected division, but only once a framework for resolving open issues in such circumstances has been agreed by all members across all divisions through a regulation change.’