Women’s Super League: Pundit on cancellation speculation
The Women's Super League is on the verge of being scrapped following a board meeting on Friday due to similar financial problems that has ended League Two's season.
The WSL - English women's football's highest tier - was still at least eight rounds of fixtures away from completing its 2019-20 season before the coronavirus pandemic struck.
But no matches have been held since February 23 with elite football in England suspended since March 13 and the United Kingdom having been in lockdown since March 23.
There had been hopes that the remaining 45 WSL matches could be behind closed doors at one location such as St George's Park, the Football Association's national football centre.
The proposal was that games would be held across a six-week period to finish off the campaign.
Women's Super League to be cancelled because of problem that forced League Two curtailment (Image: GETTY)
Women's Super League to be cancelled because of problem that forced League Two curtailment (Image: GETTY)
But the Independent now say that the WSL is to be curtailed, although a champion must be decided as per the FA's recent ruling.
The governing body recently made it clear that they want seasons to be decided on sporting merit - meaning matches must be played out on the pitch or the final standings will be declared via an agreed points per game system.
A board meeting was held on Friday in which it was established that the latter is the best option for the league.
One of the biggest problems is the same that has led to League Two clubs voting in 20-4 favour of abandoning their current season in that the running costs are too much for clubs.
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Testing will cost around £140,000 to complete the season, which is more than most clubs' annual budgets it is said.
The decision has yet to be ratified but the FA are likely to make it final next week, according to Sky Sports.
They add that logistical problems such as maintaining the healthy and safety of players and staff, who must still adhere to social distancing measures, would also be prohibitive for the WSL.
Further discussions will have to be held to determine how the league will agree upon its final standings amid a tight title race.
Manchester City currently sit atop the table with 40 points from 16 games.
Second-placed Chelsea, who have not lost a single game, sit one point behind City having played one match less.
Reigning champions Arsenal are four points behind leaders City but have also only played 15 times having lost to Chelsea in their last outing at the end of February.
If the WSL adopts the same weighted points per game method as League Two, then Chelsea will leapfrog City to win the league title.
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League Two will see Swindon Town, Crewe Alexandra and Plymouth Argyle promoted while Exeter City, Cheltenham Town, Colchester United and Northampton Town will contest the playoffs - which will be held as normal.
Stevenage sit bottom of the league table but clubs have requested the relegation to the National League is scrapped for the 2019-20 season.
The English Football League said in a statement: "Having considered the protocols and costs that would be required to be met to conclude the current season, League Two Clubs have unanimously indicated a preferred direction of travel to curtail the campaign in line with the framework outlined by the EFL Board.
"In addition, Clubs asked for consideration to be given to suspending relegation to the National League for 2019/20 as a result of circumstances created where fixtures cannot be completed.
"No commitments were made in this respect and the Board will now consider the implications of the division’s preferred approach at their next meeting."