EFL clubs fear Championship breakaway if season is ended early

EFL League One and Two clubs fear that there will be a Championship breakaway if the 2019/20 season is ended early in next week’s vote.

Clubs in the fourth tier of English football have already agreed to bring an early end to their season, and the majority of clubs in the third tier also want to follow suit.

However, the majority of Championship clubs are determined to continue, now that they have begun testing players for coronavirus, with a view to resuming training in small groups.

Sportsmail have revealed that some clubs have privately discussed the prospect of a breakaway if League One and Two is unable to resume, however it would require endorsement from the Football Association and the Premier League.

The vote to scrap would need the approval of at least 51% of clubs in any division.

It was announced by the EFL on Thursday that if any of the three divisions are ended with immediate effect, promotion and relegation remains and that the final table will be based on, PPG. Playoffs will also go ahead with four teams, despite calls from Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony to expand them.

15 Championship clubs signed a letter last season threatening to go their own way to help them receive more television revenue.

In 2017, Championship clubs earned around £7.5m from EFL’s TV deal compared to £100m the team that finishes bottom of the Premier League receives plus £75m parachute payments.

Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani said: “The Championship model must be reconsidered. We should consider a club like Leeds, watched by millions of people live on Sky, gets only £2.5m up front from the league.

“It actually penalises us because we’re always on TV. So it doesn’t work. We lose money and we are creating a show that is high-interest for everybody.

“We need to consider another way to create a Premier League 2 that can be sustainable, even for teams who are not promoted.

“The time is getting ready to consider what to do so we don’t have a crisis every two years when a club go bankrupt.

“All the clubs should open a discussion to see how we can change this league so it’s sustainable.

“It’s not for me, hopefully I’m going to the Premier League very soon. But it’s for the sport and fans and the clubs.”

Now that you know that EFL clubs fear a Championship breakaway will happened if the season is ended early, what do you make of it?

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