The EFL: "In consideration of the current challenges, a variety of proposals and ideas have been put forward by EFL clubs in relation to operational and financial matters"
Sunday 26 April 2020 09:01, UK
Leagues One and Two could be decided by the top eight sides from each division taking part in a mini-tournament to decide who is promoted.
The idea, one of three plans presently under consideration, was suggested during a meeting of club captains and the League on Friday.
The EFL's preference remains to finish the season by playing all remaining games over a 56-day period but contingency plans are being discussed in case that plan has to be discarded due to the coronavirus pandemic.
For now, none of the plans under discussion would see any teams relegated.
Under the mini-tournament plan, Wycombe Wanderers, presently eighth in League One, could be promoted to the Championship, despite being eight points behind league leaders Coventry City at the moment. Sunderland, seventh in League One, and Port Vale, eighth in League Two, would also be included in the format.
Another plan under discussion would see promotion awarded 'on merit ' - whereby the top two teams are promoted from all three EFL leagues, with two extra teams relegated at the end of next season, in order to return the leagues to their original numbers.
No decisions will be taken until the government sets out plans for how the present lockdown will proceed after May 7.
The EFL said in a statement on Saturday: "In consideration of the current challenges, a variety of proposals and ideas have been put forward by EFL clubs in relation to operational and financial matters.
"While these contributions are welcome, it is important to emphasise that there is a range of opinion among our membership and that no decisions have been taken at this stage."
Friday's discussion also considered that as many as 100,000 coronavirus tests could be needed to finish all three EFL leagues in the conventional way.
