The three potential ways forward if the season can't be completed - and where Sheffield Wednesday would finish

There’s been huge speculation over how and whether the Championship season will be completed this season as question marks over football’s response to the coronavirus crisis continue.
By Alex Miller
Published 9th May 2020, 13:11 BST
Updated 10th May 2020, 15:54 BST
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The EFL are expected to make a statement on Monday regarding the route forward for the Football League, following the Prime Minister’s speech on Sunday evening.

A growing number of Championship clubs believe the problems of finishing the season would pose too many challenges and many clubs have submitted alternative routes forward should no further football be played in the 2019/20 season.

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The three methods include an unlikely scenario that would see the table taken at the halfway point of the season, which saw Sheffield Wednesday 12 places higher than their current position of 15th, in third place.

Far more plausible, it is felt, would be a shift to a points-per-game system, effectively ending the season with the table as it is, or for a weighted points-per-game system with bias for home and away games to be used.

This would see all side’s points-per-game average in both home and away matches used to calculate the season’s end. Wednesday have five home matches left to play – against Nottingham Forest, West Brom, Preston, Huddersfield and Middlesbrough – and four away matches at Bristol City, Swansea, QPR and Fulham.

On 59.84 points Wednesday would finish in 14th place, 0.2 points ahead of Reading, who currently sit ahead of them on goal difference.

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In that eventuality with the top and bottom three unchanged – Leeds, West Brom would go up with Charlton, Luton and Barnsley relegated. It is felt that a play-off would have to be played in order to confirm a third promoted side. Fulham would finish third and would be pitted against sixth-placed Preston in a playoff semi-final with Brentford and Forest in the other.

EFL chief Rick Parry, right, has some big decisions to make when it comes to the rest of the Championship season.EFL chief Rick Parry, right, has some big decisions to make when it comes to the rest of the Championship season.
EFL chief Rick Parry, right, has some big decisions to make when it comes to the rest of the Championship season.

The EFL are understood to be keen to finish the season behind closed doors at the 24 home venues, though the idea has been described as unlikely by the UK’s Football Police Unit, Mark Roberts, has cast doubt on that happening.

Sheffield Wednesday manager Garry Monk will address players and staff early next week as to a possible return to training.

Related topics:West BromEFLPrime MinisterSheffieldFulhamPrestonNottingham Forest