The Football League season is set to be completed in a 56-day period with clubs being advised to give their players holiday and not to return to training until May 16.
A letter sent to all 71 EFL clubs by the league’s chairman, Rick Parry, outlined the plan of playing the remaining 341 games, including playoffs, behind closed doors over the course of 56 days.
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If the current campaign had been completed as normal, the remaining fixtures would have been played in 73 days up until the Championship Play-Off Final on May 25.
Prior to the suspension of the EFL, Wycombe Wanderers sat in eighth place on 59 points - just one point off the play-off spots.
The Chairboys are one of three clubs to be stuck on 59 points but have two games in hand over their promotion-pushing rivals.
Parry wrote: “Clubs should be advised not to recommence any training activity with players until 16 May, at the earliest.
“Whenever the decision is taken that it is safe to resume, we currently estimate that the league will require approximately 56 days to complete the outstanding matches in the season [including play-offs].
“We are committed to ensuring that clubs are provided with an appropriate notice period to ensure [they] are able to prepare operationally given the scale and impact of the postponements.
“It is our working assumption at this stage that matches will be played behind closed doors when we eventually return and as part of our contingency planning we are absolutely mindful of the need to try and mitigate the cost of this to clubs as best we can.
“No decision has been taken on the likely venue as it will depend on the circumstances at play at the time.”
The letter also suggested that the beginning of the following season could be delayed due to the delay of the current campaign set to be finished later than expected.
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Parry continued: “Looking more long-term, the EFL must remain mindful of the implications that the extension of this season may have on the commencement of the 2020-21 campaign.
“Although we will ensure there is a suitable break between the two, so as to allow clubs and staff sufficient time to regroup and prepare accordingly.”
The loss of match day revenue has hit EFL clubs hard, and the Premier League have advanced funds totalling £125million to the EFL and National League to help during these testing finical times.
The letter said: “In respect of the Premier League’s decision to advance £125m of funds to both the EFL and the National League, the EFL Board has taken the decision to put on hold the forwarding of advanced monies while additional clarity is sought on other financial matters, particularly in respect to player wages.
“Achieving a solution for April payroll has to be the priority at present though, understandably, our aim is to provide clubs clarity for planning purposes beyond this as quickly as possible.
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“How and when we return (including training) is clearly subject to change and any decisions will be taken in conjunction with the government and relevant health authorities.
“I think there will be a sigh of relief as and when we reach that point, and what is clear right now is that Covid-19 continues to present hugely challenging and uncertain times for everyone, and our thoughts are with all those directly affected by the pandemic.”
Wycombe have 10 games left of the season and are only three points off the automatic promotion places before the suspension.
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