MX23RW : Tuesday, November 19 14:38:47| >> :600:217352:217352:

Mark Palios claims his season-ending proposal is "fairer solution" for EFL clubs

Mark Palios claims his season-ending proposal is
© Reuters
Clubs have until 2pm on Tuesday to submit alternative frameworks for ending the season.

Tranmere chairman Mark Palios says his alternative framework for ending the English Football League season "reflects the wishes of the majority of clubs".

Palios, the former Football Association chief executive, has indicated his club will submit their proposal to the EFL ahead of Tuesday's 2pm deadline.

The EFL is then expected to issue notice of a clubs meeting on June 8, where its proposed curtailment framework plus any alternative models, including Tranmere's, will be voted on by all 71 clubs.

League One and Two clubs are then set to vote on whether or not to end the season based on whichever framework is agreed. Clubs in the fourth tier have indicated a wish to curtail the season but without relegation, while in League One clubs are undecided on how to proceed.

The EFL framework includes promotion and relegation, the retention of the four-team play-offs and the deciding of the final league table on an unweighted points-per-game basis.

Tranmere's proposal includes points per game but adds in a margin of error, whereby teams can only be automatically promoted or relegated if they remain in a promotion/relegation position after the margin of error is applied.

The margin of error would open up the opportunity for more teams to compete in the play-offs, if they wished to.

Palios confirmed to the PA news agency he is working on the proposal ahead of submission and said: "We're trying to effect a compromise as close to the EFL's position but iterate our original proposal to reflect the wishes of the majority of clubs and achieve a fairer solution that football people will recognise as such."

Under the unweighted points per game model, Tranmere would be relegated. The Wirral club are three points behind AFC Wimbledon in 21st with a game in hand. Wimbledon have said their preference is to bring the season to "a swift end" to remove ongoing uncertainty.

A group of six League One clubs, including Sunderland and Peterborough, had expressed a desire to play on, but time appears to be running out to restart the season with clubs having not even returned to small group training.

Palios' model may appeal to those clubs if it keeps open their hopes of promotion via an extended play-offs.

EFL chairman Rick Parry has stressed the difficulties of continuing the season beyond July 31 because of players being out of contract.

The EFL announced on Sunday that a provisional restart date of June 20 for the Championship had been set, with the intention of completing the play-offs on or around July 30.

Second-tier clubs will still need to vote on the framework for ending the season, in the event that the season has to be suspended again.

An EFL statement on Sunday night said the restart date was conditional on clubs receiving clearance from their local authorities to stage matches at their home grounds.

At least five matches in the Premier League have been earmarked to be played at neutral venues in an effort to "minimise risk", the UK's football policing lead said last week, but currently there has been no indication of any need to relocate matches at EFL level.

ID:401029: cacheID:401029:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6188:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Mark Palios pictured in January 2019
Read Next:
Tranmere chairman calls on EFL to tap into FIFA fund for leagues and clubs
>
Read more about Mark Palios Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
1.15am
Texans
@
Cowboys
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Port Vale1610332416833
2Crewe AlexandraCrewe158431913628
3Doncaster RoversDoncaster168442218428
4Walsall1483327151227
5MK Dons168352719827
6Notts County167632315827
7Grimsby Town168171925-625
8Bradford CityBradford166552117423
9Gillingham157261612423
10AFC Wimbledon1371521111022
11Chesterfield165742920922
12BarrowBarrow166461715222
13Fleetwood TownFleetwood145632015521
14Salford City165651518-321
15Newport CountyNewport166281926-720
16Cheltenham TownCheltenham165382125-418
17Harrogate TownHarrogate165381422-818
18Accrington StanleyAccrington154562024-417
19Tranmere RoversTranmere144551017-717
20Bromley153751719-216
21Colchester UnitedColchester152851822-414
22Swindon TownSwindon162771825-713
23Carlisle UnitedCarlisle1633101429-1512
24Morecambe1624101427-1310


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!