Sunderland face another week in limbo as EFL announce date of vote

EFL clubs will not vote on how to treat curtailed seasons until the week after next, before deciding whether to play on

Sunderland and their League One rivals will be left in limbo for at least another 11 days as they wait to decide whether to complete the season.

The EFL has released a statement saying that its board has decided to progress with the framework it outlined last week for deciding the league table, promotion, relegation, and play-off places, for any divsion that is curtailed.

That framework would allow clubs in each division to vote over whether to play on, or end the season early, with a simple 51 percent majority needed to make the decision.

And if the season is cut short, finishing positions would be determined by unweighted points-per-game.

The EFL proposes to put that framework to a vote of all 71 member clubs on Monday, June 8, and if it is passed it will then ask each of its three divisions - the Championship, League One, and League Two - to vote on whether to continue their season.

Championship clubs have already formed a consensus that they will continue, while League Two clubs have indicated that they want to cut short the season.

League One remains split with Sunderland in a group of clubs that wants to play on, but another group - thought to be in the majority - want the season to end early.

EFL chairman Rick Parry has previously said that the season would take 56 days to complete, and said that the 'realistic' deadline for completing the season is July 31, to avoid problems with player contracts.

But given that the decision on the future of League One will not be made until June 8 at the earliest, that would allow only 54 days to complete the season before the end of July - even if games resumed on the night of the vote.

The full EFL statement said: "At its meeting on Wednesday, May 27, 2020, having carefully considered submissions from clubs, the EFL board agreed to progress with the proposed framework it outlined on Thursday, May 21, 2020 in respect of changes to EFL Regulations in the event season 2019/20 is curtailed in any EFL Division.

"At the same time as advising on its proposed approach last week, the board had asked clubs to give it appropriate consideration and provide any feedback. Communications were submitted from clubs across all divisions and those proposals, some of which have been made available publicly, suggested how the framework in the event the season is ended prematurely could alternatively work.

"The board has to date been consistent in its approach that playing out the remainder of season 2019/20 when it is safe to do so, is the preferred position and whilst the Championship have advised of their intentions to resume fixtures, League Two Clubs have indicated their preference to curtail the season.

"At present clubs in League One are still undecided.

"A decision on whether or not to curtail the season is a matter to be considered by clubs in any affected division, but only once a framework for resolving open issues in such circumstances has been agreed by all members across all divisions through a Regulation change.

"After a full and comprehensive review of the club submissions, alongside consideration of views stated at the club meetings of May 13 and 15, 2020, the board unanimously agreed to continue with the original approach and is now proposing to call a meeting of clubs on Monday, June 8, 2020 to consider and, if thought fit, approve the proposals to introduce the Regulation change.

"The EFL Articles allow member clubs the opportunity to propose amendments to Regulations and should any club wish to propose an alternative, it must do so by submitting such a proposal by no later than 2pm on Tuesday, June 2, 2020.

"The EFL will issue any notice of meeting later that day. Any such club proposals will be considered at the same meeting as the board's proposal."