https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52063085
No wage deferral agreement in the Championship
The Football League has been told of unease among some Championship clubs about the motives behind a call for blanket wage deferrals in the league.
The idea, which involves capping salaries at £6,000-a-week for four months, was put forward at a hastily arranged conference call between the EFL and the 24 second-tier clubs last Friday.
However, it is understood there was no agreement, with some clubs questioning why they should agree to effectively default on contracts when they had no immediate financial need, given the current coronavirus shutdown has only lasted three match rounds, covering, at the most, two home games.
Championship leaders Leeds have followed Birmingham in confirming wage deferrals have been agreed with their squad.
But the EFL has been made aware, both verbally and in writing, about a number of concerns relating to the wage deferral debate.
In particular, it has been asked when the deferred wages will be paid, whether this will be done in one lump sum - and where the funding will come from for that to be done. In addition, the EFL have been asked what happens in respect of players who are out of contract on 30 June.
Crucially, the EFL is also being asked whether clubs who have deferred wages will still be allowed to sign new players in the summer, thereby adding to a wage bill they have not been able to meet.
Some clubs have been unhappy for a while now about apparent flouting of financial fair play (FFP) rules.
They believe there is now a call being made for a league-wide solution to an issue that is - currently - not affecting every club and questions are being asked about why clubs who are presently able and willing to meet their commitments should, effectively, risk being penalised.
Football cracks appearing
posted on 28/3/20
comment by Cal Neva (U11544)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Champers - Pow! Right in the kisser (U6859)
posted 11 seconds ago
comment by Cal Neva (U11544)
posted 40 seconds ago
I've already said the lower leagues can restart when it is safe to do so. The only real issue is the leagues immediately below the two national leagues North and South and including North and South? Where there won't be promotion and relegation because of the action already taken.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
And how do these clubs play in the FA Cup, given the previous competition won't have ended?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well the same thinking applies. Start it when football is allowed. What is there 10 levels ? I'm not sure of the maths but they could possibly play extra games or play each round nearer to each other. I'm sure there can be a way if people want it to happen.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
That makes no sense. How can they play in a competition that hasn't concluded from the season before? You can't just say cram games in as manynof these players have jobs to hold down as well. Or shall we just scrap the cup next year and restrict the earnings of those clubs?
posted on 28/3/20
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 28/3/20
Coronavirus: Opposition grows among non-league clubs to ending season
By Ian Dennis
BBC Radio 5 Live senior football reporter
Jersey Bulls
Jersey Bulls scored 99 goals this season in Combined Counties League Division One and only conceded seven.
A growing number of non-league clubs are prepared to lobby the Football Association after the decision to cancel the season for steps three to seven in the pyramid.
On Thursday, the FA said all results will be expunged with no promotion and relegation.
But within the space of 12 hours of that decision, over 30 clubs from all areas of the country had voiced their concerns and are willing to challenge the FA.
Thursday's decision is yet to be ratified by the FA council, who are due to meet next week.
If the council gives its approval, it would mean no resumption to the season below National League North and South level.
In a post on social media, the FA said: "The decision taken to end the 2019/20 season across Steps 3-7 of the National League System, the women's football pyramid and the wider grassroots game was made by committee representatives for the respective leagues, and was supported by The FA Board and The FA Women's Board.
"It will now go to The FA Council for ratification. We fully support the decision they came to during these challenging and unprecedented circumstances for English football."
Some men's teams, such as Jersey Bulls and Vauxhall Motors, had already secured promotion to step five from their respective leagues, but their achievements are likely to be cancelled.
Bulls boss Gary Freeman, whose side had won all 27 of their matches in the Combined Counties Football League Division One and were 20 points clear at the top, said he understood the FA's decision but it was "disappointing not be be rewarded".
However, he has not given up hope of seeing his side play at a higher level next season if the club can negotiate with the league to be "placed" in a different division "if appropriate".
"We are looking at different avenues to see if there is anything we can do," he told BBC Radio Jersey.
"We are feeling a little hard done by, but the FA - to be fair to them - had a tough decision to make as they were looking after the whole nation.
"They needed some sort of consistency through the leagues, so if they did allow promotion for one they would open a can of worms.
"The players are aware that we are too strong for this league and it will be a tough challenge to get going again, but if that is what we have to do, then we will knuckle down in the summer ready to go."
posted on 28/3/20
Hopefully they get their wish, Jonny. Appalling of the FA, that.
posted on 28/3/20
comment by Cal Neva (U11544)
posted 30 minutes ago
comment by Champers - Pow! Right in the kisser (U6859)
posted 48 seconds ago
comment by Cal Neva (U11544)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Champers - Pow! Right in the kisser (U6859)
posted 11 seconds ago
comment by Cal Neva (U11544)
posted 40 seconds ago
I've already said the lower leagues can restart when it is safe to do so. The only real issue is the leagues immediately below the two national leagues North and South and including North and South? Where there won't be promotion and relegation because of the action already taken.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
And how do these clubs play in the FA Cup, given the previous competition won't have ended?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well the same thinking applies. Start it when football is allowed. What is there 10 levels ? I'm not sure of the maths but they could possibly play extra games or play each round nearer to each other. I'm sure there can be a way if people want it to happen.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
That makes no sense. How can they play in a competition that hasn't concluded from the season before? You can't just say cram games in as manynof these players have jobs to hold down as well. Or shall we just scrap the cup next year and restrict the earnings of those clubs?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The higher clubs don't come in until half way through the season so why can't the lower levels start the new FA cup ? And I don't think jobs of PT players is the crucial factor here. I think they could manage maybe one extra game a week.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think in terms of exceptional circumstances, that's one I could get behind
posted on 28/3/20
The FA, the Premier League and the EFL are currently setting out plans to finish the 2019/20 campaign behind closed doors over a period of four to six weeks starting in July, football.london reports.
posted on 29/3/20
Season could be lost, says Uefa boss Aleksander Ceferin
Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin says the current football season could be lost if it cannot be restarted by the end of June.
Most leagues in Europe are suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic, with this summer's Euro 2020 tournament postponed for another year.
Ceferin says seasons could be finished behind closed doors.
"If we don't succeed in restarting, the season will probably be lost," the Slovenian said.
He told Italian newspaper La Repubblica: "There is a plan A, B and C.
"The three options are to start again in mid-May, in June or at the end of June.
"There is also the possibility of starting again at the beginning of the next [season], starting the following one later. We will see the best solution for leagues and clubs."
As it stands there are nine games to be completed by the majority of Premier League clubs, and up to 12 in the Football League.
All football in England is suspended until at least 30 April.
Ceferin says that playing remaining games behind closed doors would have to be an option across Europe.
"It's hard for me to imagine all the matches behind closed doors, but we still don't know whether we'll resume, with or without spectators," he said.
"If there was no alternative, it would be better to finish the championships."
posted on 29/3/20
comment by Champers - Pow! Right in the kisser (U6859)
posted 18 hours, 22 minutes ago
comment by Stoopo (U4707)
posted 54 minutes ago
I still think the sensible option is to void if necessary and promote the top three from each league with no relegation.
Tough on those in and around playoff spots but much better than any other solution other than playing out the season at some point.
Playing it out is obviously the preferred option but unlikely as things stand.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nice try but that's never going to happen.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Who says - you? I’ll take my view based on what I’ve read from those who are in charge of different leagues and those in charge of clubs hear.
This system has been used before and there will be a groundswell for it here if we cannot finish the season,
We’ve played 80% of the games and the season should not be just ended.
That’s my view and I know others share it. Whether it happens remains to be seen. Don’t rule it out because it doesn’t affect your club.
posted on 29/3/20
I think today's Government broadcast makes it clear that there won't be any football before end of June and potentially September, there will be some announcements this week coming postponing the season even further.
posted on 29/3/20
comment by Stoopo (U4707)
posted 6 hours, 49 minutes ago
comment by Champers - Pow! Right in the kisser (U6859)
posted 18 hours, 22 minutes ago
comment by Stoopo (U4707)
posted 54 minutes ago
I still think the sensible option is to void if necessary and promote the top three from each league with no relegation.
Tough on those in and around playoff spots but much better than any other solution other than playing out the season at some point.
Playing it out is obviously the preferred option but unlikely as things stand.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nice try but that's never going to happen.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Who says - you? I’ll take my view based on what I’ve read from those who are in charge of different leagues and those in charge of clubs hear.
This system has been used before and there will be a groundswell for it here if we cannot finish the season,
We’ve played 80% of the games and the season should not be just ended.
That’s my view and I know others share it. Whether it happens remains to be seen. Don’t rule it out because it doesn’t affect your club.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Plenty of people think the earth is flat, too.
Said plenty of times you're the best team in this league and would go up as champions, but the only way that's happening is if you achieve it based upon the competition rules set out at the start of the season. Otherwise it just contravenes the whole spirit of the game.
Look at it this way...you don't have a great record at Cardiff, nothing to say you couldn't lose that game. Nothing to say either that Fulham couldn't win that same weekend then come to yours and beat you the week after. All of a sudden your lead is ONE point with SEVEN games to play, and you think you should be promoted just because you're currently at the top of the league? There's teams who've already been promoted and actually achieved it, and its not going to happen, yet you seriously think it would be in the spirit of fair play to be promoted under far lesser circumstances than that? Are you serious?
The league will be completed, I'm certain of it. It will take some doing and probably a lot of goodwill from certain corners, but it will get done I reckon. And you can then go on and earn your promotion as it should be. And I'll be the first to come and congratulate you for it.