PWR. You either cancel the rest of the season and promote the top two of each division, with no play-off promotion, and no relegation.... Or you complete the season, including any play-offs, by 30 June,
My initial thoughts were to scrap this season and start fresh next season but think about it like this....one of the next two seasons needs either changing or not happen at all. Surely it’s better to change/cancel a season that hasn’t started yet rather than one that’s 70% done.
If you cancelled the entire 20/21 season many clubs would go under. They'd be contracted to pay players.........but wouldn't have any income.
We'd actually be better prepared than most given about 70% of our squad are either on loan or out of contract at the end of June. What foresight from Roland!!
Most clubs have 9 matches to go so will get an extra "gap". Players will have had a break so the usual moans about playing too many games is not one that carries any validity especially if they are not made to over train in between games. Equally, a lot of those who were injured will now be fit so squad strength will have been restored at the outset
(3) New season starts in September with all outstanding European games being played by the end of that month
(4) Do away with/suspend for one season the Carabao Cup and Football League Trophy - less is more and clubs might actually then treat the F A Cup more seriously
(5) Transfer window stays open 'til the end of October
The chances of anyone agreeing to that career threatening schedule is very slim.
6 or 7 games in 3 weeks is not "career threatening". A reckless tackle and broken leg as a result is.
Between 23rd November and 2nd January Liverpool played 11 games in 41 days. Between 15th February and 3rd March they also played 5 games in 17 days. Some players played in every one of those games including VVD who I believe did not miss a single minute of those matches.
Whether it’s career threatening or not hardly matters when any contemplation of hosting a gathering of 40/50/60 people and then engaging in an activity which requires NHS staff to be present and increases the chances of someone needing hospitalisation is bloody life threatening.
What happened in World War Two, how frequently park football is played or the fact that they played on Christmas Day and then Boxing Day in 1847 doesn’t matter. Football is over for this season and it won’t be back for quite a while.
Premier League executives have been told it will cost them £762 million in lost broadcast revenue if the 2019-20 season fails to finish due to the coronavirus, The Athletic can reveal.
The huge figure would come due to a breach of contract in terms agreed for domestic and international rights and was communicated to all 20 clubs during the crisis meeting at Premier League headquarters in London on Thursday morning.
The suspension is understood to be costing Sky, one of the two main domestic broadcasters, huge amounts per day as they are not charging many sports customers and cannot attract the same in advertising.
The clubs receive broadcast money twice a year, in August and February, so only recently received the cash for the end of the season.
Some clubs are determined to get games played behind doors so they don’t lose the broadcast money, such is their vulnerable financial position. Their outgoings — players’ wages in particular — are so high that they fear they cannot survive without it. They want games to go ahead and players to be regularly tested. Training grounds would be sealed off and players “wrapped in cotton wool” to protect them from contracting the virus.
They feel it is not long until staff at Premier League clubs would have to be laid off, as has been the case at Lyon in France today. Some players in Germany have donated their wages so non-playing staff can stay employed. This is something many Premier League clubs would be in favour of.
Other clubs feel games behind closed doors is unrealistic and that the players will refuse to play if they feel their health or those around them is at risk, especially if the rest of the country is isolating to prevent the spread of the virus.
Rather than attend in person, a representative from each club dialled in to the conference chaired by Claudia Arney, the Premier League interim chair, to limit the potential spread of the disease, and the response to the massive price of curtailing the campaign early was said to be sanguine rather than shock. Those in charge of top-flight clubs accepted the consequences of being unable to fulfil fixtures would be significant.
“We need to look outside accepted boundaries in football for a solution,” said a source. “Normal service won’t be resumed.”
As per expectations, the postponement to the professional football calendar was pushed back from April 4 to April 30 at the earliest but a joint-statement between the FA, the Premier League, the EFL and women’s professional game, together with the PFA and LMA, made plain that further, drastic action could yet be taken.
It read: “The FA’s Rules and Regulations state that ‘the season shall terminate not later than the 1 June’ and ‘each competition shall, within the limit laid down by The FA, determine the length of its own playing season’. However, The FA’s Board has agreed for this limit to be extended indefinitely for the 2019/20 season in relation to Professional Football.”
Those words confirmed the possibility that games could be played into June and even July if necessary and the consensus on that extension was described as “unanimous” in a “far from dramatic” meeting. “Clubs had decided for themselves about the best way forward before they spoke,” said a source. “Any attempt top go with table as it is now would cause uproar.”
Others, however, said there are administrators who “may get nervous” if football is not resumed by mid-May as there “wouldn’t seem to be time to get things done.”
There are also reservations among players, many of whom feel they will be left in limbo and as the delays go on, with some wondering whether it is really feasible to finish off the season after such a long break. It will be seven weeks by the time May begins.
Manchester United and Liverpool have announced they will be paying all casual staff irrespective of whether games are cancelled or go ahead behind closed doors.
In Liverpool’s case the pledge relates to the postponed homes games up to the end of April at a cost of £250,000 per match, while for United some 3,000 staff will be paid for each of the four remaining Premier League matches at the time they were scheduled to happen. It will cost United about £1 million in total. Should the games then go ahead at a subsequent date any staff working will be paid again.
The joint statement from football’s authorities concluded: “The progress of COVID-19 remains unclear and we can reassure everyone the health and welfare of players, staff and supporters are our priority. We will continue to follow Government advice and work collaboratively to keep the situation under review and explore all options available to find ways of resuming the season when the conditions allow. We would all like to re-emphasise that our thoughts are with everyone affected by COVID-19.”
………………...good luck with the 'players will be wrapped in cotton wool to protect them from the virus' ideology. Try telling Lyle and the whole squad that they won't be going home, seeing any of his friends of family and living as a monk in the company of team mates and club officials (without exception) for 2 months. It's a ridiculous suggestion that professional footballers (1) will make any sort of sacrifice personally or (2) can be kept immune from catching the virus even if some 'monastic' environment can be created.
Just wait until the first player or club official goes down with the virus and the whole squad has to self-isolate for 14 days. Will clubs like Charlton be forced to put the kids out to finish the season with the inevitable outcome of relegation? No club would stand for that.
Award the Premier League trophy to Liverpool. No other matters are any where as defined elsewhere. Find a way to prevent Prem clubs from having to pay back the Sky money so they can survive. Feel sorry for the likes of WBA and Leeds who might have gone up to the promised land and end the season now. That, at least gives everyone the chance of starting a new season afresh at some point later in 2020 or 2021. It avoids the painful player contract expiry workaround fiasco too. It's madness to even think that this season and next can be started & finished.
………………...good luck with the 'players will be wrapped in cotton wool to protect them from the virus' ideology. Try telling Lyle and the whole squad that they won't be going home, seeing any of his friends of family and living as a monk in the company of team mates and club officials (without exception) for 2 months. It's a ridiculous suggestion that professional footballers (1) will make any sort of sacrifice personally or (2) can be kept immune from catching the virus even if some 'monastic' environment can be created.
Just wait until the first player or club official goes down with the virus and the whole squad has to self-isolate for 14 days. Will clubs like Charlton be forced to put the kids out to finish the season with the inevitable outcome of relegation? No club would stand for that.
Award the Premier League trophy to Liverpool. No other matters are any where as defined elsewhere. Find a way to prevent Prem clubs from having to pay back the Sky money so they can survive. Feel sorry for the likes of WBA and Leeds who might have gone up to the promised land and end the season now. That, at least gives everyone the chance of starting a new season afresh at some point later in 2020 or 2021. It avoids the painful player contract expiry workaround fiasco too. It's madness to even think that this season and next can be started & finished.
So no one else gets the benefit of anything from last season, except Liverpool?
You can't do it. You complete it or you cancel it.
………………...good luck with the 'players will be wrapped in cotton wool to protect them from the virus' ideology. Try telling Lyle and the whole squad that they won't be going home, seeing any of his friends of family and living as a monk in the company of team mates and club officials (without exception) for 2 months. It's a ridiculous suggestion that professional footballers (1) will make any sort of sacrifice personally or (2) can be kept immune from catching the virus even if some 'monastic' environment can be created.
Just wait until the first player or club official goes down with the virus and the whole squad has to self-isolate for 14 days. Will clubs like Charlton be forced to put the kids out to finish the season with the inevitable outcome of relegation? No club would stand for that.
Award the Premier League trophy to Liverpool. No other matters are any where as defined elsewhere. Find a way to prevent Prem clubs from having to pay back the Sky money so they can survive. Feel sorry for the likes of WBA and Leeds who might have gone up to the promised land and end the season now. That, at least gives everyone the chance of starting a new season afresh at some point later in 2020 or 2021. It avoids the painful player contract expiry workaround fiasco too. It's madness to even think that this season and next can be started & finished.
So no one else gets the benefit of anything from last season, except Liverpool?
You can't do it. You complete it or you cancel it.
It has to be - you can't change the rules half way through the game.
Disadvantaged clubs will take legal action through the courts. Next season won't start until that is resolved - which could drag on a long time.
But this season can be extended - the FA have said so. And for as long it takes.
The Premier League and the EFL, each has their own AGM before the start of any new season, where member clubs vote for any changes within the competitions. That's when any changes to next season, 20-21 can be made - they can re-write the whole thing if member clubs agree.
PWR. You either cancel the rest of the season and promote the top two of each division, with no play-off promotion, and no relegation.... Or you complete the season, including any play-offs, by 30 June,
But...that would leave each division 2 teams bigger........
PWR. You either cancel the rest of the season and promote the top two of each division, with no play-off promotion, and no relegation.... Or you complete the season, including any play-offs, by 30 June,
But...that would leave each division 2 teams bigger........
Only The Premier League.
The Championship for example would see Rotherham and Coventry from League One replace Leeds and WBA.
PWR. You either cancel the rest of the season and promote the top two of each division, with no play-off promotion, and no relegation.... Or you complete the season, including any play-offs, by 30 June,
But...that would leave each division 2 teams bigger........
Only The Premier League.
The Championship for example would see Rotherham and Coventry from League One replace Leeds and WBA.
To be honest the longer this goes on the more I can see 2020/21 being cancelled and instead there being a bit of a pre-season, the end of this season, and a bit of a longer build up to the Euros.
To be honest the longer this goes on the more I can see 2020/21 being cancelled and instead there being a bit of a pre-season, the end of this season, and a bit of a longer build up to the Euros.
League cup/ plays off must be top of the list to be scrapped next season.
Out of the people who were going Hull with me on Saturday with me, one has had their promotion cancelled at work, one is on unpaid leave, another will be out of a job soon. Don’t think football or Charlton is high up any of our list at all.
If this season is extended until it's finished (which could easily be late summer or autumn) won't this cause problems with 2020/21 AND the vast TV money to Premier League is due to be paid?
Why would Sky (and all the other TV companies) pay the 2020/21 TV money if there's no 2020/21 season?
Lets hope that Sky give up on football and that we can return to some sort of sanity in which what matters is whether you can develop and manage a team. I'd settle for relegation if players were no longer paid as much in a week as you or I are likely to earn in 20 years.
If this season is extended until it's finished (which could easily be late summer or autumn) won't this cause problems with 2020/21 AND the vast TV money to Premier League is due to be paid?
Why would Sky (and all the other TV companies) pay the 2020/21 TV money if there's no 2020/21 season?
It's going to cause all kinds of financial problems, not so much at the likes of City and United etc but for clubs like Sheffield United, Southampton, Burnley etc who all rely heavily on the sky money.
I've read that if the 19/20 season doesn't finish then clubs have to pay sky something like 760m back in tv money.
But then the clubs will probably argue it wasn't their fault and challenge it.
If this season is extended until it's finished (which could easily be late summer or autumn) won't this cause problems with 2020/21 AND the vast TV money to Premier League is due to be paid?
Why would Sky (and all the other TV companies) pay the 2020/21 TV money if there's no 2020/21 season?
It's going to cause all kinds of financial problems, not so much at the likes of City and United etc but for clubs like Sheffield United, Southampton, Burnley etc who all rely heavily on the sky money.
I've read that if the 19/20 season doesn't finish then clubs have to pay sky something like 760m back in tv money.
But then the clubs will probably argue it wasn't their fault and challenge it.
Well, it’s not sky’s fault either, so why should they pay it anymore than the clubs should? At the end of the day, the money in prem football just isn’t going to be there if they don’t finish the season, so someone’s got to be out of pocket. They obviously want to get games played to minimize losses, but if they can’t, they’ll have to share losses somehow. How fair that’ll be is anyone’s guess. There’s so much at stake though, that I think they’ll push it to real extremes to get games played.
If the clubs can play the games and sky can televise it, they’ll do it. Wouldn’t be surprised if they find a way to play games behind closed doors with all the players wear hazmat suits.
If this season is extended until it's finished (which could easily be late summer or autumn) won't this cause problems with 2020/21 AND the vast TV money to Premier League is due to be paid?
Why would Sky (and all the other TV companies) pay the 2020/21 TV money if there's no 2020/21 season?
It's going to cause all kinds of financial problems, not so much at the likes of City and United etc but for clubs like Sheffield United, Southampton, Burnley etc who all rely heavily on the sky money.
I've read that if the 19/20 season doesn't finish then clubs have to pay sky something like 760m back in tv money.
But then the clubs will probably argue it wasn't their fault and challenge it.
Well, it’s not sky’s fault either, so why should they pay it anymore than the clubs should? At the end of the day, the money in prem football just isn’t going to be there if they don’t finish the season, so someone’s got to be out of pocket. They obviously want to get games played to minimize losses, but if they can’t, they’ll have to share losses somehow. How fair that’ll be is anyone’s guess. There’s so much at stake though, that I think they’ll push it to real extremes to get games played.
If the clubs can play the games and sky can televise it, they’ll do it. Wouldn’t be surprised if they find a way to play games behind closed doors with all the players wear hazmat suits.
I’m only half joking.
Sky have already paid it, so the issue will be getting the clubs to pay it back.
I just don't currently see how games can be played, even behind closed doors. You’ve got the players, coaching staff, medical staff, commentators, camera crews etc plus away teams will have to travel and stay in hotels. All whilst we're supposed to undergoing 'social distancing'.
I have changed my mind on this. I originally was of the opinion that just you just scrap this season and start again.
I now think what is more likely is to scrap next season and finish this season come what may.
Most of Europe is in lock down and will be for the next 12 weeks. I am not sure when the 1st rounds of the European competitions are meant to start but that already can't happen.
I don't know how much "integrity" this season will have as we could play Hull in September with a completely diffrent set of players than we would have done. But it's probably the least worst option.
Lets hope that Sky give up on football and that we can return to some sort of sanity in which what matters is whether you can develop and manage a team. I'd settle for relegation if players were no longer paid as much in a week as you or I are likely to earn in 20 years.
I have changed my mind on this. I originally was of the opinion that just you just scrap this season and start again.
I now think what is more likely is to scrap next season and finish this season come what may.
Most of Europe is in lock down and will be for the next 12 weeks. I am not sure when the 1st rounds of the European competitions are meant to start but that already can't happen.
I don't know how much "integrity" this season will have as we could play Hull in September with a completely diffrent set of players than we would have done. But it's probably the least worst option.
If we're playing Hull in September then how do you fit in next season and get it played before the Euros?
What happens when you finish the season in November with everybody shaking each others hands job well done but then you can't play a full 20/21 season before the Euros?
If the season can't be finished before the end of June sorry but logically there's no other realistic solution than to end the season no relegations and top two go up. It's the least hassle to it and also gives enough flexibility to complete next season as well especially if you have to delay the start of 20/21 to September which is quite possible.
How long before someone is bored enough to produce aggregate tables? ie. we spent the first 2 “rounds” in the top 6, the next 8 rounds in the top 10, the next round back at 5th, then 4 rounds at 14th etc etc right up to one round at 22nd place. Divide that all by 36 and there you have it we’re safe, seems the fairest way to me 😀
Comments
Or you complete the season, including any play-offs, by 30 June,
We'd actually be better prepared than most given about 70% of our squad are either on loan or out of contract at the end of June. What foresight from Roland!!
What happened in World War Two, how frequently park football is played or the fact that they played on Christmas Day and then Boxing Day in 1847 doesn’t matter. Football is over for this season and it won’t be back for quite a while.
Premier League clubs told to pay back £762m if they fail to finish season
Premier League executives have been told it will cost them £762 million in lost broadcast revenue if the 2019-20 season fails to finish due to the coronavirus, The Athletic can reveal.
The huge figure would come due to a breach of contract in terms agreed for domestic and international rights and was communicated to all 20 clubs during the crisis meeting at Premier League headquarters in London on Thursday morning.
The suspension is understood to be costing Sky, one of the two main domestic broadcasters, huge amounts per day as they are not charging many sports customers and cannot attract the same in advertising.
The clubs receive broadcast money twice a year, in August and February, so only recently received the cash for the end of the season.
Some clubs are determined to get games played behind doors so they don’t lose the broadcast money, such is their vulnerable financial position. Their outgoings — players’ wages in particular — are so high that they fear they cannot survive without it. They want games to go ahead and players to be regularly tested. Training grounds would be sealed off and players “wrapped in cotton wool” to protect them from contracting the virus.
They feel it is not long until staff at Premier League clubs would have to be laid off, as has been the case at Lyon in France today. Some players in Germany have donated their wages so non-playing staff can stay employed. This is something many Premier League clubs would be in favour of.
Other clubs feel games behind closed doors is unrealistic and that the players will refuse to play if they feel their health or those around them is at risk, especially if the rest of the country is isolating to prevent the spread of the virus.
Rather than attend in person, a representative from each club dialled in to the conference chaired by Claudia Arney, the Premier League interim chair, to limit the potential spread of the disease, and the response to the massive price of curtailing the campaign early was said to be sanguine rather than shock. Those in charge of top-flight clubs accepted the consequences of being unable to fulfil fixtures would be significant.
That is why, along with issues around competitive integrity, there remains a “100 per cent” commitment to completing the season whatever it may take, including the prospect of staging matches behind closed doors. The Athletic has previously reported on the potential for litigation if there is no relegation or promotion, aside from matters of European qualification.
“We need to look outside accepted boundaries in football for a solution,” said a source. “Normal service won’t be resumed.”
As per expectations, the postponement to the professional football calendar was pushed back from April 4 to April 30 at the earliest but a joint-statement between the FA, the Premier League, the EFL and women’s professional game, together with the PFA and LMA, made plain that further, drastic action could yet be taken.
It read: “The FA’s Rules and Regulations state that ‘the season shall terminate not later than the 1 June’ and ‘each competition shall, within the limit laid down by The FA, determine the length of its own playing season’. However, The FA’s Board has agreed for this limit to be extended indefinitely for the 2019/20 season in relation to Professional Football.”
Those words confirmed the possibility that games could be played into June and even July if necessary and the consensus on that extension was described as “unanimous” in a “far from dramatic” meeting. “Clubs had decided for themselves about the best way forward before they spoke,” said a source. “Any attempt top go with table as it is now would cause uproar.”
Others, however, said there are administrators who “may get nervous” if football is not resumed by mid-May as there “wouldn’t seem to be time to get things done.”
There are also reservations among players, many of whom feel they will be left in limbo and as the delays go on, with some wondering whether it is really feasible to finish off the season after such a long break. It will be seven weeks by the time May begins.
Manchester United and Liverpool have announced they will be paying all casual staff irrespective of whether games are cancelled or go ahead behind closed doors.
In Liverpool’s case the pledge relates to the postponed homes games up to the end of April at a cost of £250,000 per match, while for United some 3,000 staff will be paid for each of the four remaining Premier League matches at the time they were scheduled to happen. It will cost United about £1 million in total. Should the games then go ahead at a subsequent date any staff working will be paid again.
The joint statement from football’s authorities concluded: “The progress of COVID-19 remains unclear and we can reassure everyone the health and welfare of players, staff and supporters are our priority. We will continue to follow Government advice and work collaboratively to keep the situation under review and explore all options available to find ways of resuming the season when the conditions allow. We would all like to re-emphasise that our thoughts are with everyone affected by COVID-19.”
https://www.htafc.com/news/2020/march/covid-19--extension-of-town-match-postponements/
Can someone let Lee and Jacko know?
………………...good luck with the 'players will be wrapped in cotton wool to protect them from the virus' ideology. Try telling Lyle and the whole squad that they won't be going home, seeing any of his friends of family and living as a monk in the company of team mates and club officials (without exception) for 2 months. It's a ridiculous suggestion that professional footballers (1) will make any sort of sacrifice personally or (2) can be kept immune from catching the virus even if some 'monastic' environment can be created.
Just wait until the first player or club official goes down with the virus and the whole squad has to self-isolate for 14 days. Will clubs like Charlton be forced to put the kids out to finish the season with the inevitable outcome of relegation? No club would stand for that.
Award the Premier League trophy to Liverpool. No other matters are any where as defined elsewhere. Find a way to prevent Prem clubs from having to pay back the Sky money so they can survive. Feel sorry for the likes of WBA and Leeds who might have gone up to the promised land and end the season now. That, at least gives everyone the chance of starting a new season afresh at some point later in 2020 or 2021. It avoids the painful player contract expiry workaround fiasco too. It's madness to even think that this season and next can be started & finished.
You can't do it. You complete it or you cancel it.
Disadvantaged clubs will take legal action through the courts.
Next season won't start until that is resolved - which could drag on a long time.
But this season can be extended - the FA have said so.
And for as long it takes.
The Premier League and the EFL, each has their own AGM before the start of any new season, where member clubs vote for any changes within the competitions.
That's when any changes to next season, 20-21 can be made - they can re-write the whole thing if member clubs agree.
But...that would leave each division 2 teams bigger........
The Championship for example would see Rotherham and Coventry from League One replace Leeds and WBA.
😒
Why would Sky (and all the other TV companies) pay the 2020/21 TV money if there's no 2020/21 season?
I've read that if the 19/20 season doesn't finish then clubs have to pay sky something like 760m back in tv money.
But then the clubs will probably argue it wasn't their fault and challenge it.
At the end of the day, the money in prem football just isn’t going to be there if they don’t finish the season, so someone’s got to be out of pocket. They obviously want to get games played to minimize losses, but if they can’t, they’ll have to share losses somehow. How fair that’ll be is anyone’s guess. There’s so much at stake though, that I think they’ll push it to real extremes to get games played.
If the clubs can play the games and sky can televise it, they’ll do it.
Wouldn’t be surprised if they find a way to play games behind closed doors with all the players wear hazmat suits.
I’m only half joking.
I just don't currently see how games can be played, even behind closed doors. You’ve got the players, coaching staff, medical staff, commentators, camera crews etc plus away teams will have to travel and stay in hotels. All whilst we're supposed to undergoing 'social distancing'.
I now think what is more likely is to scrap next season and finish this season come what may.
Most of Europe is in lock down and will be for the next 12 weeks. I am not sure when the 1st rounds of the European competitions are meant to start but that already can't happen.
I don't know how much "integrity" this season will have as we could play Hull in September with a completely diffrent set of players than we would have done. But it's probably the least worst option.
What happens when you finish the season in November with everybody shaking each others hands job well done but then you can't play a full 20/21 season before the Euros?
If the season can't be finished before the end of June sorry but logically there's no other realistic solution than to end the season no relegations and top two go up. It's the least hassle to it and also gives enough flexibility to complete next season as well especially if you have to delay the start of 20/21 to September which is quite possible.
ie. we spent the first 2 “rounds” in the top 6, the next 8 rounds in the top 10, the next round back at 5th, then 4 rounds at 14th etc etc right up to one round at 22nd place. Divide that all by 36 and there you have it we’re safe, seems the fairest way to me 😀