Blackpool to kick off next season in August or September?

The EFL has held meetings with League One clubs this week to discuss a start date for the 2020/21 season.
Blackpool's last game of the 2019/20 season was against Tranmere Rovers in early MarchBlackpool's last game of the 2019/20 season was against Tranmere Rovers in early March
Blackpool's last game of the 2019/20 season was against Tranmere Rovers in early March

It’s believed two possible dates have been put forward to the clubs – both of them earlier than first anticipated for the third tier’s return.

The first restart date reportedly being considered by the EFL is August 29, the final weekend of August and only eight weeks away.

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That date is only two weeks later than the 2020/21 campaign would have started anyway, even without the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

Should that prove too soon, it is understood that the EFL has a back-up date of September 12, a month later than a regular league campaign would begin.

However, the Daily Mail is reporting that many clubs in League One and League Two are pushing for a delayed kick-off date due to the costs involved.

Some of the smaller sides believe a later date would allow them to save hundreds of thousands of pounds in salaries.

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However, this would create more difficulties as the EFL would find it hard to squeeze in all the fixtures.

Clubs were asked for their feedback on the proposals with a decision expected to be made later this month.

Finance experts predicted that the final 10 games of the 2019/20 season would have cost lower league clubs £500,000 to complete due to the high cost of Covid-19 testing.

Since then the EFL has tested players from the lower leagues set to be involved in the play-offs, but it is understood they will not be able to do so should all clubs return to action.

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Clubs, meanwhile, are not eligible to receive furlough money from the Government once their players have returned to training.

As a result, pushing back the usual mid-August start would enable them to save up to a month’s wages.

Based on the proposed salary cap levels that are expected to be introduced this summer, that would lead to savings of around £200,000 in League One and £125,000 in League Two.