The future suddenly looks very bleak for Tranmere Rovers, who will be one of the clubs adversely affected under EFL proposals on curtailing the current season.
They currently occupy the third relegation spot in League One and, if the EFL go with an unweighted points per game model to complete the season, they’d be relegated out of the third tier. This, despite putting together a mammoth run in which they hauled AFC Wimbledon to within touching distance, with the Wombles future opponents for the Super White Army.
The EFL statement read: “Resuming the 2019/20 season with the existing format remains the most appropriate course of action from a sporting integrity perspective, but the Board accepts there are circumstances that may lead to curtailment (as has been demonstrated with League Two) or a situation subsequently transpires whereby the season is unable to conclude.”
The statement then went on to explain that play-offs should be played, but crucially that relegation should also take place.
“The principle of relegation across all three divisions is integral to the integrity of the pyramid, from the Premier League down to the National League, provided we have assurances that the National League will start season 2020/21 (i.e. the relegated Club in League Two has somewhere to play).”
That would mean Mickey Mellon’s side, who had put together an impressive winning run ahead of the season grinding to a halt, would be relegated at the first time of asking. They only came out of League Two last season, after being promoted from the National League the year before that.
The news has not been taken well by Tranmere fans, who are understandably upset at the fact they could be relegated when there was every chance they could have survived. Indeed, a points per game model based on the form table, rather than the whole season, would have seen them finish above Wimbledon.
Their fans have been reacting on Twitter, hoping that any outcome of talks to resume the League One season could mean this model is irrelevant anyway.
Absolute rubbish from @EFL
So you are happy to give a club a chance of promotion even though they have not earned it, but you will give NO CHANCE to a team (@TranmereRovers) who have NOT YET BEEN RELEGATED.
I hope @markpalios1 will challenge this!#SWAhttps://t.co/kTtp1zhqBM
— Rob Mac (@Deadly_sub) May 21, 2020
If this is what they believe to be the most appropriate way forward, then that’s me done with football.
— Phil Adderley (@Adders100) May 21, 2020
Right @markpalios1 @NicolaPalios, about a fans fundraising scheme to help the Club pay legal fees in any forthcoming legal challenge ….? 🤔 The #SWA is ready and willing…. #TRFC https://t.co/ErS1ygaOL9
— Stephen Atkinson 🔶 (@ThisCharmingSte) May 21, 2020
Now to start campaigning the chairman who need to be sportsmen now they know the terms. Promotion now would be like scoring whilst your whole opposition is injured. This is not our game. @markpalios1 the #swa will fight with you. We must wait to play out now surely
— richard davies (@bigdikky5) May 21, 2020
Tranmere avoided relegation when we probably deserved it thanks to re-election in the past. Now it looks like a vote will send us down when we don’t ! Incredible that clubs can vote to end the season then come back for play-offs #trfc #swa https://t.co/1vWnnEQgfJ
— Nigel Adderley (@nadderley) May 21, 2020
There was always gonna be some teams coming off worse than others when it comes to ending the season. We’ve been really poor this season until the last 3 games. Just have to get promoted again #swa
— Mark Borrill (@bozzatrfc) May 21, 2020
Shocking decision that takes no account of the variety of difficulty of remaining games or the form of the clubs involved.
Shame on you @BigRickParry #SWA
— Rob Mac (@Deadly_sub) May 21, 2020
Why not consider applying the results of the last six matches which would better reflect current form,weather etc. Then in Tranmere`s case it would show 10 points from 6 games average 1,66 points per game then apply this to the remaining 10 games which gives us 16.6 points. A total of 48.6 points.
It would actually move us up to 18th compared to the other candidates!!
Take the last 6 games in points achieved then apply those points to the remaining games and that would be a fairer way to reflect form,weather etc.
It would move us to 18th compared to the other relegation candidates.
We did an article on this Barry, back in March before people spoke about PPG. As an unbiased opinion, I personally don’t believe unweighted PPG is the best way forward. I think something like results from the end of the transfer window onwards should be taken into consideration. We also did an article on the outcome of last season if it had been ended on March 13th and finished on PPG. Wimbledon would have been relegated, along with Bristol Rovers and Rochdale. I suppose it is tough to keep everyone happy though, but we feel for Tranmere fans.