Coventry celebrate their return to League One
Two promotions in three seasons has ended Coventry's eight-year Championship absence

Sky Bet EFL news: League One & League Two seasons ended as clubs vote to retain promotion, relegation and play-offs


Clubs in League One and League Two have voted to formally end the season, with promotion, play-offs and relegation retained.

Coventry and Rotherham have been promoted from Sky Bet League One to the Championship, with Tranmere, Southend, and Bolton all relegated.

Swindon have been confirmed as champions of Sky Bet League Two, with Crewe and Plymouth also promoted.

However relegation out of the English Football League is yet to be decided.

Stevenage currently sit bottom of League Two but 23rd-placed Macclesfield are facing a potential points deduction, and relegation will only be ratified if the National League can give assurances that its competition will go ahead.

Wycombe will face Fleetwood and Portsmouth will take on Oxford in the League One play-offs, with a date for those ties yet to be confirmed.

In League Two's equivalent, Cheltenham will play Northampton and Exeter will meet Colchester, with the first games scheduled for June 18.


League One: Final table on weighted points-per-game

Promoted: Coventry City and Rotherham United

Play-offs: Wycombe Wanderers v Fleetwood Town and Portsmouth v Oxford United (dates TBC)

Relegation: Tranmere Rovers, Southend United and Bolton Wanderers

League Two: Final table on weighted points-per-game

Promoted: Swindon Town, Crewe Alexandra and Plymouth Argyle

Play-offs: Cheltenham Town v Northampton Town and Exeter City v Colchester United

Schedule:

  • 1st legs - Thursday 18th June

Colchester v Exeter (1715)

Northampton v Cheltenham (1945)

  • 2nd legs - Monday 22nd June

Exeter v Colchester (1715)

Cheltenham v Northampton (2000)

Relegation: TBC


Forest Green chairman Dale Vince, who has been a strong advocate of completing the 2019-20 season, said on Twitter that his club were the only ones who voted to play on.

"The question of whether to play out our season or quit has just been voted on," he wrote.

"Only one vote in favour of playing on (FGR) – surprised by that. So L2 season is done. Shame, but we’ll focus on the new one, whenever that comes and in whatever shape it takes."

Vince told the PA news agency: "I think it’s been a good day for football. The vote this morning was a good common sense outcome which respects the integrity of the game as far as that’s possible when you don’t finish the season.

"And then the vote this afternoon was not unexpected. The vote to end League Two prematurely, we knew that was coming.

"We voted to play on but we were a lone voice sadly. So we at least have some certainty now, we know what’s happening, and we can focus on the new season which I hope may start in September."

From earlier - today's meeting

English Football League clubs have voted to retain promotion, relegation and the play-offs and to use an unweighted points-per-game system to decide the final table if the season is curtailed.

The model was the one set out by the EFL’s board, and the league said it was “overwhelmingly agreed” to adopt it into the competition’s regulations at a meeting on Tuesday.

Leagues One and Two will vote later today on whether to curtail the 2019-20 season using the agreed model.

The Championship is set to play on, with the competition set to restart on June 20.

Barnsley and Tranmere set out alternative plans to the one proposed by the EFL board.

Barnsley’s removed relegation in any division which had to be curtailed, while Tranmere’s suggested adding a margin for error to the basic points-per-game calculation.

Three other clubs – Lincoln, Ipswich and Stevenage – had also put forward amendments to the EFL board’s proposal, but the original plan set out by the league is the one which has been adopted.

EFL chairman Rick Parry says the system remains 'as faithful as possible'

EFL chairman Rick Parry said: “Whilst it has always remained the board’s position to play the remainder of the season where possible, the decision reached at today’s meeting follows a full and considered consultation period with our member clubs.

“The board has endeavoured to listen to all views and alternative approaches but understands that the decisions taken will not be met with universal satisfaction from all clubs.

“Today’s outcome ensures that the league and its clubs remains as faithful as possible to the previously agreed regulations and that there is consistency in the approach adopted across the EFL in all divisions if required.

“It is clear that the challenges facing the league from the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic are unprecedented and I thank the contribution of EFL clubs in making this important determination."


Follow Sporting Life on social - find us on Facebook here or tweet @SportingLifeFC

Related football content

Responsible gambling

We are committed in our support of responsible gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.Sky Bet's responsible gambling tools are detailed here and if you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, or visit begambleaware.org.Further support and information can be found at GamCare and gamblingtherapy.org.