Could this be the day that Plymouth Argyle are promoted?

The Pilgrims were third in League Two when the 2019/20 season was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic

A ball will not be kicked in anger, there will be no one there to see it and the celebrations will be mooted at best. But today could be the day that Plymouth Argyle are promoted to League One.

The Pilgrims sit third in the League Two table, occupying the last of the three automatic promotion places, and still have nine of their scheduled 46 games remaining this campaign.

But the unwelcome and untimely intervenation of coronavirus has seen the League Two season brought to a premature finish with clubs in the fourth tier voting on ending it now to avoid running the risk of further financial hardship.

Their idea was to decide league placings on an average points-per game basis. That would see the top three promoted to League One and the next four, including Exeter City, to be involved in the play-offs.

There would be no relegation, which would be a reprieve for Stevenage, while National League leaders Barrow would be welcomed into the Football League to replace Bury, who were forced to withdraw from League One last season due to their financial problems.

All it needed was ratification from the EFL and Football Association, but with the Championship and League One undecided on how they will conclude their campaigns, it has not been forthcoming.

The EFL have since told clubs they must make a decision, but set out a framework that includes promotion and relegation and which they say remains central to maintaining the integrity of the competition.

That has not gone down well with clubs sitting in those relegation places, who are wholly against the idea of the season being decided on a points-per-game average, as is being proposed. It is like football's own version of musical chairs.

Today, clubs in each division will cast a vote on how they want the season to be brought to a conclusion, but the likelihood is that clubs in League Two will agree on a points-per-game average, which will see Argyle promoted along with Swindon Town (as champions) and runners-up Crewe Alexandra.

EFL chairman Rick Parry said: "The board has always acknowledged that a single solution to satisfy all clubs would always be hard to find, but we are at the point now where strong, definitive action is needed for the good of the league and its members."

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Argyle chief executive Andrew Parkinson said: “What I would take away from the discussions that I have had is that promotion and relegation will happen.

“I just can't see a scenario where a season will be voided, or a scenario where there isn't some form of movement between the leagues because that is the basis of how we have always operated.

“Clearly there is not an ideal option, but I think it's the more fanciable of a lot of options.

“Obviously some clubs will have their own individual thoughts and I can understand that, but I think the vast majority will probably go one way and I think, in League Two, it's the way the indicative vote went.”

Each division requires a 51 per-cent majority among the clubs concerned and an announcement on the outcome is expected later on Wednesday. Maybe then the champagne corks can finally be popped.