The National League

[Thor]

Are looking at ways how to conclude the season for steps 5 and 6. One suggestion is to take the points earnt over the season and apply that to the remaining games and add that to games played and arrive at the final positions. The only issue is that this does not take account of current form.

It’s certainly a novel way to look at how to complete this season, but I think it leaves lots of questions from member clubs who could make a case for staying up or going up.

[StillSpike]

Are looking at ways how to conclude the season for steps 5 and 6. One suggestion is to take the points earnt over the season and apply that to the remaining games and add that to games played and arrive at the final positions. The only issue is that this does not take account of current form.

It’s certainly a novel way to look at how to complete this season, but I think it leaves lots of questions from member clubs who could make a case for staying up or going up.

Isn't that exactly the same as simply taking the current position? (assuming all clubs have played the same number of games). SPFL are looking at working it out on points per game, which is pretty much the same thing.

[Thor]

No not really spike. If you take Barnet who are 11th and have played 4 games less than Stockport who are in the last play off position then points averaged out would take Barnet above Stockpot, but Stockport have the old points in the bag argument surely?

To be in charge right now will be one massive headache!

[StillSpike]

Absolutely an awful headache.

One of the problems up here is that the SPFL are trying to ensure that no-one is negatively affected because of coronavirus. But that's impossible whatever a football authority decides to do, so they shouldn't have promised it.

Personally, I think the least worst option is to stop leagues as they are and work out final positions on points per game played (it's a reasonably fair assumption to make that if Barnet have won 1.54 ppg so far then they'd probably have got 6 or 7 points in their 4 games in hand). Once the final positions were arrived at, then only have promotions, no relegations or play-offs, and thus increase the size of the upper leagues. This could then be fixed next year, if necessary, by increasing the number of relegation spots at the end of 2020/21 season.

The only teams then with a reason to complain would be the teams in playoff positions, who've missed a chance (but only a chance) of getting through.

[EliotNes]

Absolutely an awful headache.

So true

[Dunners]

That sounds sensible and least-worst to me. If the increased league sizes risk fixture congestion then just scrap the league cup for a season.

There's no pain-free way out of this.

[Long slender neck]

Just play the remaining games asap. Single leg playoffs.

[StillSpike]

I think the problem with that is that by the time it'll be possible to play the remaining games - say June, if we're lucky - then you've got all the issues with players out of contract, or promised to a new club.. Up here, there's the very real possibility of clubs being out of business by then, so they can't fulfill their fixtures anyway.

As someone said on another thread, any team suffering relegation at the end of a season resumed in June and finished in July/August (assuming that was even possible) would have just as much a case for complaint as a team suffering relegation should the season end now on ppg.

[DaggerHam]

Hi StillSpike, what's the story with Rangers accusing the SPL of mishandling the vote on the way to end the season?

[tuffers#1]

It would be nassively unfair on Yeovil
currently below Notts County.

County played there last game & won handsomely.
Yeovil had there game postponed because of covid
Therefore allowing county to go above them ,
but more importantly, it mow gives county a higher ppg

Unfair is an understatement .

They would need to take points back to the last full weekend of fixtures & then apply points oer game from then, only problem with that is county won those points fair & square.

Finish the league on the other side of lockdown.

Only half the fixtures were played that last weekend of footy so itt will affect more than just those 2

[StillSpike]

Hi StillSpike, what's the story with Rangers accusing the SPL of mishandling the vote on the way to end the season?

It's about the most mishandled vote you could imagine, to be honest. All sorts of fun and games. Dundee secretary sent the vote in, but it supposedly got stuck in a firewall (no way) and now Dundee have changed their mind and don't want it counted. It's worth reading up on some of the statements from the clubs etc

Essentially, the thrust of Rangers argument seems to be that SPFL tied the distribution of monies to the clubs to ending the season (don't end the season, you don't get the cash - but if you do, you can have the prize monies / participation monies NOW). Rangers say that SPFL could have made loans to the clubs in advance of any prize monies. Basically, it looks like SPFL want to get it done and dusted (but don't want to be the ones making the decision - hence the vote - in case they get sued).

Rangers just have to play to their supporters that they'll do anything to stop Celtic from winning. They cannot be seen to vote for anything that would allow that, even thou Celtic are 13 points clear and pretty much home and hosed.

[StillSpike]

It would be nassively unfair on Yeovil
currently below Notts County.

County played there last game & won handsomely.
Yeovil had there game postponed because of covid
Therefore allowing county to go above them ,
but more importantly, it mow gives county a higher ppg

Unfair is an understatement .

They would need to take points back to the last full weekend of fixtures & then apply points oer game from then, only problem with that is county won those points fair & square.

Finish the league on the other side of lockdown.

Only half the fixtures were played that last weekend of footy so itt will affect more than just those 2

It's never going to be "fair" though - no matter what they do.

Raith Rovers were due to head to Peterhead on 14th March, while Falkirk were headed to Dumbarton. Rovers have played poo poo at Peterhead every time they've been there, so I'm absolutely certain that Falkirk would have overtaken Rovers had that weekend's fixtures been played. Then Falkirk would be in the position to get promoted and Rovers would be spending another year in the Seaside League. It's blind luck that the games were called off, and very "unfair" on Falkirk

After the end of June, Raith Rovers will have 6 players contracted (2 of them 16-year-olds) - and that's assuming that Rovers are still in business by then. Would it be "fair" to conclude the season past that date ? (no, I don't think they could continue to pay the whole squad, even if they could persuade them all to stay). What if, say, Stranraer and Peterhead go bankrupt in the meantime? (a very real possibility) Are their results expunged ? (that would be a swing to Raith of 3 and 4 points as it stands).

I really don't think the authorities can leave it til some indeterminate time in the future to try to conclude the matches - but I also recognise that ending now on ppg would see Rovers promoted, so I can't claim to be entirely unbiased. Whatever happens, however, someone is going to feel hard done by.

[tuffers#1]

Fair is restarting & finishing the season then .

Next season a shorter break & probably 2 games a week where possibke to catch up.

League cup & all the pointless cup matches can be
Bypassed next season , to assist.

[Disoriented]

Are looking at ways how to conclude the season for steps 5 and 6. One suggestion is to take the points earnt over the season and apply that to the remaining games and add that to games played and arrive at the final positions. The only issue is that this does not take account of current form.

It’s certainly a novel way to look at how to complete this season, but I think it leaves lots of questions from member clubs who could make a case for staying up or going up.

‘Current form’?

[Ornchurch]

Fair is restarting & finishing the season then .

Not if the remaining games are not played on the same basis as those already completed.

[tuffers#1]

Fair is restarting & finishing the season then .

Not if the remaining games are not played on the same basis as those already completed.

It would be massively unfair on Yeovil 
currently below Notts County.

County played there last game & won handsomely.
Yeovil had there game postponed because of covid 
Therefore allowing county to go above them , 
but more importantly, it mow gives county a higher ppg 

Unfair is an understatement .

They would need to take points back to the last full weekend of fixtures & then apply points oer game from then, only problem with that is county won those points fair & square.

Finish the league on the other side of lockdown.

Only half the fixtures were played that last weekend of footy so itt will affect more than just those 2

[Ornchurch]

Fair is restarting & finishing the season then .

Not if the remaining games are not played on the same basis as those already completed.

It would be nassively unfair on Yeovil 
currently below Notts County.

County played there last game & won handsomely.
Yeovil had there game postponed because of covid 
Therefore allowing county to go above them , 
but more importantly, it mow gives county a higher ppg 

Unfair is an understatement .

They would need to take points back to the last full weekend of fixtures & then apply points oer game from then, only problem with that is county won those points fair & square.

Finish the league on the other side of lockdown.

Only half the fixtures were played that last weekend of footy so itt will affect more than just those 2

Why the repost?

[tuffers#1]

Uh ?

[LittleMate]

Make a calculation, using whatever parameters, and where its deemed tight (this would need defining in advance) then make sides play off over 2 legs to decide the outcome. This would stop lots of meaningless games, as well as keep fans safe.