League One clubs will have to wait until the end of next week to discover when the 2020/21 season will get under way.

Two dates are currently under consideration, August 29th and September 12th, although with some clubs believed to prefer to start once fans can return to grounds en masse, which is unlikely to be until the new year. However, the September date currently looks most likely.

It was anticipated that a decision would be made this week but, according to Peterborough United director of football Barry Fry, the EFL has put it back until Friday 24th July.

The EFL is believed to want to play both its cup competitions in 2020/21 despite what would be a shorter season with discussions ongoing with the FA and the Premier League. There is little scope to stretch the campaign into next summer due to Euro 2020 being staged a year late.

"It's incredibly frustrating, but we’ve now been told we won’t hear anything about a start date until July 24th,” Fry told the Peterborough Telegraph.

"The Premier League and the FA are still talking with the EFL about cups and all sorts. It's driving our manager Darren Ferguson up the wall as he can't plan properly for next season.

"It can't start any later than September 12th or we'll never get the fixtures in. If we start on September 12th it will be six months between competitive matches for us.”

Town boss Paul Lambert and general manager of football opertaions Lee O'Neill will similarly be frustrated by the delay in fixing a date for the start of the season.

As things stand, the Blues squad are pencilled in to return to training at Playford Road later this month.

Photo: TWTD

ArnieM added 18:00 - Jul 13 Ooooh what a surprise, not !! 🙄 Get a bloody grip EFL
3

Mark added 18:12 - Jul 13 Surely in the circumstances we need to scrap the 2020/21 EFL Cup and EFL Trophy?
15

TheTrueBlue1878 added 18:32 - Jul 13 Bending over backwards for the smaller clubs. Season had to be halted because they could afford to carry on, season cannot restart because they cannot afford to carry on. Times like this we are fortunate for Marcus Evans and his continued financial support of the club through these times.
12

TheTrueBlue1878 added 18:33 - Jul 13 Don't let this become another sign of incompetence and lack of leadership like the season being halted. Was a never ending cycle of ‘decision delayed for another week', simply on repeat.
3

runaround added 18:49 - Jul 13 Why can't the football authorities just make a decision & the clubs I either have to abide by it or resign from the league. This constant delaying trying to please everyone is not helping anyone & it's obvious that, especially in league one, it's going to be impossible to please everyone. Just pick a date, decide when the fixtures will be throughout the season, decide what percentage of fans can be allowed in depending on social distancing guidelines at the time & get on with it

4

Pencilpete added 19:00 - Jul 13 A delay to decision..... I never saw that one coming
7

multiplescoregasms added 19:47 - Jul 13 With our squad rotation in place, we will be able to knock out 2 or 3 games a week if needed.Easy. :-)
0

OwainG1992 added 20:33 - Jul 13 Just make a bloody decision. If this drags on again that's all we need!
1

istanblue added 20:44 - Jul 13 Maybe they can have another meeting to decisively decide that they will be leaving the decision up to clubs again?
2

Westy added 21:31 - Jul 13 Everybody knows that when the end of next week comes the decision will be delayed again and when the EFL finally do get round to making it, it will be the wrong one. I have lost all faith in the administrators of football.
3

Michael101 added 22:11 - Jul 13 They are having a meeting to decide when to have a meeting to set the agenda for a meeting to where to have a Christmas dinner to talk about a meeting when to start playing again.2029 is the most popular option.
1

Saxonblue74 added 23:03 - Jul 13 2 dates currently being discussed which are 2 weeks apart. Maybe I'm missing something here but how does that prevent a manager from preparing for a new season?
1

algarvefan added 23:30 - Jul 13 It's a real worry how clubs will fare financially without gate receipts and still having all the normal costs. Just surviving has to be the aim this season. Anything else is just a bonus.
0

Bert added 23:33 - Jul 13 Utter nonsense to be even thinking about cup games. Start the season in September with or without reduced numbers in stadiums. No doubt Peterborough are more than miffed that Wycombe undeservedly have been promoted to the Championship.
4

KiwiBlue2 added 00:43 - Jul 14 Maybe they can form a sub-committee to hold a series of meetings with the clubs over the next month and then make a decision not to make a decision and the whole committee then postpone the making of a decision further and leave it up to Santa Claus on 25 December...........
1

brittaniaman added 09:13 - Jul 14 So the Mighty Wycombe are promoted to the Championship !!!!! We could not beat Oxford or Wycombe with their smaller Squads, what are our chances in the next Campaign when it eventually starts, ?? probably behind closed doors.
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Razor added 10:01 - Jul 14 No surprise here with past form being taken in to account. The smaller clubs prevented us finishing our league and they can not now be allowed to dictate when we start. Firm decisions and positive action is needed-----what are the chances of that!!
0

Razor added 10:01 - Jul 14 No surprise here with past form being taken in to account. The smaller clubs prevented us finishing our league and they can not now be allowed to dictate when we start. Firm decisions and positive action is needed-----what are the chances of that!!
0

TJS added 10:32 - Jul 14 Simple solution Reduced League One starts in September for all League One clubs happy to play behind closed doors. League Two splits into North and South Divisions and starts in January for anyone not happy to play behind closed doors.
0

londontractorboy57 added 14:50 - Jul 14 Football below the premiership level is finished.
1

TractorRob added 09:51 - Jul 15 I don't think this league will start until fans are allowed in because many clubs can't afford it. That decision will be for the government to make and they may give short notice or they may not allow it at all given the current ideas about a second wave of covid. The worst case is that the league starts and then has to stop in the winter because of the second wave. All the clubs can do is wait and see, just like the rest of us.

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