The Premier League is aiming to restart its season next month – but the rest of the English football pyramid is making plans to curtail its campaigns.
Although Championship sides are determined to follow the top-flight’s lead and complete the season, it could well be that we don’t see another kick of EFL football due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The EFL has set out plans for how the season will end if no more football is played
As such, the EFL have proposed an unweighted points per game model to decide the final standings in the event of a league being curtailed.
The play-offs would be played out to decide the last promotion spots – although this may still change if these matches cannot be completed.
Should the points per game system be agreed on by clubs, here’s what the title, promotion, and relegation picture will look like in the EFL…
Championship
The Championship table as things stand
With each team having nine games to go, it’s as you were in the second tier.
The title heads to Elland Road, West Brom return to the Premier League, while Charlton, Luton and Barnsley all drop down to League One.
Charlton will be furious if the season is curtailed, having only dropped into the bottom three for the first time in their final match before play was halted.
Champions
Leeds United – 1.92 points per game
Promoted
West Brom – 1.89 points per game
Leeds were leading the way in the Championship before coronavirus stepped in
Play-offs
Fulham – 1.73 points per game
Brentford – 1.62 points per game
Nottingham Forest – 1.62 points per game
Preston – 1.51 points per game
Relegated
Charlton – 1.05 points per game
Luton Town – 0.95 points per game
Barnsley – 0.92 points per game
Lee Bowyer has done a great job at Charlton in difficult circumstances but they may still be relegated
EFL League One
The League One table as things stand
Here’s where it gets interesting.
Not everyone has played the same amount of games so several clubs move up and down the table – and Peterborough and Tranmere will not be happy.
Settling the league on unweighted points per game would fire Wycombe up from eighth to third and put Posh outside the play-offs.
Southend United would stay above Bolton but relegation has long been on the cards for the Shrimpers who were terrible from the very start of the season.
Tranmere, meanwhile, would go down despite having a game in hand on AFC Wimbledon, who are three points above them.
Champions
Coventry City – 1.97 points per game
Promoted
Rotherham – 1.77 points per game
Coventry City could be celebrating a title win in 2020
Play-offs
Wycombe – 1.74 points per game
Oxford – 1.71 points per game
Portsmouth – 1.71 points per game
Fleetwood – 1.71 points per game
Relegated
Tranmere – 0.94 points per game
Southend United – 0.54 points per game
Bolton Wanderers – 0.41 points per game
Sol Cambell and his Southend side are doomed to relegation
EFL League Two
How the League Two table currently looks
There is no change at the bottom of the fourth tier – with Stevenage relegated – but a huge one at the top.
Only one side go down this year after clubs rejected the possibility of a return for Bury in 2020/21.
Meanhwile, even though Crewe had been in good form in first position, Swindon will pip them to the title.
Port Vale’s play-off dream would be over, with Cheltenham swapping places with Exeter.
Champions
Swindon – 1.92 points per game
Promoted
Crewe Alexandra – 1.86 points per game
Plymouth – 1.84 points per game
Swindon Town are on course to win the title if the League Two season is curtailed
Play-offs
Cheltenham Town – 1.78 points per game
Exeter City – 1.76 points per game
Colchester United – 1.57 points per game
Northampton Town – 1.57 points per game
Relegated
Stevenage – 0.61 points per game