EFL provide update to Leeds United's promotion bid and points per game preference if seasons are curtailed

The EFL's update came after clubs in League Two voted to end the season in a fashion which would see the Whites promoted to the Premier League if applied in the EFL Championship.

Yet United's promotion destiny is still being planned to be decided on the pitch with Championship clubs indicating a wish to play on and conclude all remaining games in line with the EFL.

League Two sides gathered by conference call on Friday and voted unanimously for three clubs to be promoted automatically and for play-offs to take place but with no relegation into the National League.

A points-per-game format was discussed, with any formal ending of the season requiring a similar agreement being reached by League One - whose talks broke up earlier on Friday without a definitive outcome.

Any decision would then require the ratification of the English Football League and the Football Association.

The EFL still hope to complete all Championship fixtures when safe to do so amidst the country’s battle with coronavirus but EFL chairman Rick Parry has previously stated that all competition in the EFL must be concluded by July 31 - when 1,400 players will be out of contract.

Parry had previously stated the EFL's plan to play all remaining games in a 56-day time frame during the summer months behind closed doors.

Clubs were initially given this Saturday - May 16 - as a date to return to training but the EFL have this week told their players not to return to training until May 25.

Parry has also said he would expect promotion and relegation throughout the EFL and also relegation from the Premier League in the event of seasons being curtailed.

FA chairman Greg Clarke also said the FA would look to block any moves to declare seasons null and void.

Leeds would go up as champions if the Championship was settled via an unweighted points per game model which means points are not reflected via home and away results, unlike the weighted model. In any case, Leeds finish top of both.

United sit top of the division and one point ahead of second-placed West Brom with Leeds also holding a seven-point cushion in the division's automatic promotion places with nine games left.

League One clubs are expected to meet again on Monday after no definitive outcome was reached at their meeting on Friday morning.

Six third-tier clubs - Fleetwood Town, Ipswich Town, Oxford United, Peterborough United, Portsmouth, and Sunderland - said on Thursday that they were opposed to ending the season now on a points-per-game basis.

The teams involved are all in the top half of the League One standings, from Oxford in third to Ipswich in 10th. Teams in the division have between eight and 10 games left to play.

The Government's road map for exiting lockdown will allow sporting events to take place behind closed-doors for broadcast from June 1, while avoiding the risk of large-scale social contact.

That, though, will only be possible though if sufficient progress is made in limiting the spread of the virus between now and then.

But EFL chairman Rick Parry told the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee last week that for many clubs, playing behind closed doors would actually cost them money, and that finishing the 2019-20 season was overwhelmingly a matter of sporting integrity.

The Premier League are hoping to play all of their remaining games and have been working on Project Restart with a view to resuming first training and then league games when safe.

A statement released by the EFL on Friday afternoon read: "Representatives of League One and League Two Clubs have met today by division where they have shared a wide range of comprehensive views in respect of how the 2019/20 season is concluded.

"The rationale for playing the remaining matches has been fully debated with a particular focus on the issues COVID-19 has created in respect of health and wellbeing, ongoing testing requirements, player registration issues and the financial burdens Clubs already face at this difficult time.

"In the event of a curtailment of the season, the EFL Board outlined how this could be addressed through a framework that includes maintaining the principle of promotion and relegation, league tables to be determined via unweighted points per game (PPG) and Play-Offs to remain in every division to determine the final promotion place.

"The EFL Board, whose aspiration has always been to conclude the 2019/20 season by completing the remaining fixtures, has previously stated that any decision on how to conclude the season is a matter for Clubs to determine in their respective divisions and, as a result of today’s discussions, the following update can be provided:

League Two

Having considered the protocols and costs that would be required to be met to conclude the current season, League Two Clubs have unanimously indicated a preferred direction of travel to curtail the campaign in line with the framework outlined by the EFL Board.

In addition, Clubs asked for consideration to be given to suspending relegation to the National League for 2019/20 as a result of circumstances created where fixtures cannot be completed. No commitments were made in this respect and the Board will now consider the implications of the division’s preferred approach at their next meeting.

League One

There were varied views shared in League One and it was determined that there would be a further period of reflection and consultation to understand what creative solutions could be implemented. It was acknowledged that the need to find innovative and creative solutions was of paramount importance as was the need for decisions to be taken quickly.

In addition, Championship Clubs met earlier this week and have indicated that it is their wish to play on and conclude the season.

The EFL will continue to work with all its members to progress the discussions and arrive at the necessary decisions as appropriate in what remain challenging and complex circumstances.

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