'I do feel sorry for Sunderland': Former Newcastle United man issues surprise League One verdict

Joey Barton and Gareth Ainsworth have both said that they want to play the League One season to a conclusion, but are unsure at this stage how their club owners will vote.
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Third-tier clubs are set to vote next week on EFL proposals that would allow a 51% majority to bring an early end to the season.

In that scenario, the table would be settled on an unweighted points-per-game formula.

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The top two would be promoted automatically, the bottom three relegated, and the final promotion spot settled by a four-team play-off system.

Wycombe Wanderers boss Gareth AinsworthWycombe Wanderers boss Gareth Ainsworth
Wycombe Wanderers boss Gareth Ainsworth

Both Fleetwood Town and Wycombe Wanderers would benefit from that scenario in that their play-off spot would be confirmed.

Read here how we expect every League One club to vote on curtailment next week

Wycombe Wanderers would jump from their current position of eighth to third in that eventuality.

Barton believes that Fleetwood Town owner Andy Pilley will vote against a curtailment, while Ainsworth says his owner has reservations.

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Both managers, however, insist that their preference is to try and secure an automatic spot.

Barton believes Rotherham United will have ‘won the lottery’ if they are awarded second place.

“I'd prefer to finish the campaign,” Barton told the Sky Sports Football Show.

“We've been quite vocal from the start, we believe we could have got automatic promotion.

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“We'd had one defeat in 17, unbeaten in 12, been away to every side who had a chance of winning the league.

“Six of our last nine games were against teams in the bottom ten, three of them in the relegation places.

“We felt we had a right shot so we're disappointed, we're two points behind Rotherham and still have them to play at home.

“We're disappointed but we will get a chance in the play-offs.

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“I do feel sorry for Sunderland, a bit aggrieved for Gillingham, Doncaster, even Ipswich.

“Then Peterborough, who are a very good side, will miss out.”

Barton said he did ultimately understand the stance of the clubs, expected to be a narrow majority, who prefer to curtail due to the financial implications of playing on.

“They don't have much to play for so it's understandable,” he said.

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"They can't get crowds in, which is a huge part of the revenue streams. They've now got the government furlough scheme so they can recoup some of the salaries while the crowds in.

“You can understand them wanting to protect their football clubs.

“We've got to find the balance.

“I think it's important to finish the competition if we start it. Hopefully we do that.

“There will be winners and losers.

“Tranmere will be aggrieved, Sunderland, Peterborough and a few others will rightly be aggrieved.

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“The winners in this will be Wycombe and I think Rotherham have won the lottery getting second because they had I think six of the top ten to play.

“It's not fair but this is a global pandemic and we have to resolve it one way or the other.”

It was then put to Barton by Gary Neville, co-owner of League Two side Salford City, that it would be in Fleetwood's interests to vote for curtailment and a PPG formula, to protect their play-off position.

“That's the easy thing to do,” Barton said.

“But last season we were 11th, and in this scenario I still think we would have tried to play on.

“I just think that is the ethos of this club.”

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Ainsworth said he shared Barton’s sentiments, and insisted that his club has a good chance of makign second if the season is concluded.

However, he also said that owner Rob Couhig, whose takeover was completed just two weeks before the postponement of fixtures, had serious reservations over the financial implications of playing on.

He also said he expected his owner to consider the financial consequences for other clubs who would be forced to play on.

Ainsworth said that completing the season was the only ‘fair’ solution, but that it could not come at the price of the clubs going out of business.

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“We still think we've got a good chance of getting one of the automatics,” Ainsworth said.

“We have ten games to go, [seven] opponents in the bottom half of the table.

“We've been in the top two longer than any other club. We dropped out the top three because we were scheduled to play Bury the week before the lockdown.

“We still have plenty to play for on the pitch.

“Costs and finances are a huge concern, for my owner included,” he added.

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“From my own competitive point of view, give me the ten games remaining because I think we'll finish in the automatics at least.

“But it has to be safe, and we cannot be putting clubs out of business.

We didn't want the season to stop, we were back in form, had some good players coming back to fitness, and were looking forward to challenging for the top two.

“My owner will look at the decision.

“He'll look at the finances involved in keeping playing, but the play-offs will cost us as well in terms of testing, taking players off furlough, training etc.

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“We want to play, but if it doesn't make sense financially, I understand my owner’s decision.”

Sunderland are strongly in favour of completing the campaign ont he pitch, with CEO Jim Rodwell particularly vocal in the debate dividing the third-tier this week.

That view was backed on Thursday night by Gillingham manager Steve Evans, who says his club will vote to play on.