Walsall comment: It’s just too costly for clubs to return
It seemed inevitable and finally the League Two season is coming to an end.
After a conference call between all 24 clubs and EFL chiefs yesterday, it was unanimously agreed that they wanted to end the season now and determine the table on an unweighted points-per-game system.
They also called on relegation to the National League to be suspended with Stevenage three points adrift with a game in hand – the EFL will now consider this before a formal vote is placed.
It’s taken far too long to get here, but there is finally some momentum with League Two on what direction to go in.
It will pain any football fan to say it, but it is the right decision for several reasons.
The gap between League Two and the Championship is huge, both in talent on the pitch and financial strength.
The Premier League is another beast in itself.
It is estimated that the cost of testing players and playing games behind closed doors would run into hundreds of thousands for each club in League Two.
At this level, that is not realistic.
Walsall are a club that run a tight financial ship but they are not a rich club – simply put, it is not affordable, particularly without any income.
Consider the other clubs in League Two, there are many who would go under if football continued.
Money talks in football and in this case rightly so, without that mindset there would be no football for fans to look forward to.
Another major stumbling block has been the contract situation with players.
Across the EFL, around 1,400 players are out of contract on June 30, with many of them from League One and League Two.
Uncertainty has been building over whether players out of contract could play throughout July, which would have been necessary to finish the season, or whether players would want to play – add in the confusion over players that are furloughed too.
Additionally, clubs would be forced to pay out bonuses and appearance fees if players did play, heaping more financial pressure on clubs that are already struggling.
The reaction from fans is almost universal, end League Two and ensure the club’s future while planning for next season – it was sadly the only way.
The next step is to confirm salary caps and end the arms race in football.
Although this has taken too long, we are finally at a point of relative clarity, unlike League One who have chosen to stew over it again.
