Extended season is possible for Blackpool and Fleetwood Town

However, John Nixon, who is also co-owner of League Two side Carlisle United, says the prospect is not currently being discussed, with the EFL keen to finish the campaign on time.

However, with Blackpool and Carlisle among the clubs currently playing catch-up, Nixon says a possible extension should not be dismissed if postponements continue to pile up.

He said: “Everyone hopes the vaccines will lead to the virus situation easing but if clubs do have fixture backlogs to contend with, then talks about an extension are definitely not going to be taken off the table.

“For a lot of good reasons, extending the season isn’t desirable but when you see clubs who have small squads, as we have at Carlisle, it will bring pressure if they have to play Saturday-Tuesday and then have to squeeze other games in on top of that as well.

“A lot of clubs have full weeks between now and May at the moment, and they will all face similar pressures, so the EFL will monitor how things are going very closely.”

It comes after Blackpool’s game against Peterborough United on Saturday was called off due to a frozen pitch.

It was the second home game in five days to be postponed, after the Seasiders’ scheduled midweek fixture against Burton Albion was called off barely 10 minutes before kick-off.

Neil Critchley’s side have only played 24 league games so far this term, six fewer than at the same point last season.

Once the Peterborough and Burton games are rearranged, Blackpool will have just two remaining free midweeks between now and the end of the 2020/21 season, which is currently due to be completed on May 8.

That becomes one midweek if the Seasiders are unable to rearrange a game between the home clash with Plymouth Argyle on Saturday, March 27 and the visit to Swindon Town six days later (Good Friday).

If further games are postponed and the season isn’t extended, that raises the prospect of clubs playing Saturday-Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday to cram in their remaining fixtures.

The Seasiders, who have four games in hand on some sides, have now had six games postponed this season.

Three have been for Covid-related reasons, while another three have been due to the weather.

Critchley’s side return to action at Bloomfield Road tomorrow, when they take on Rochdale in a rearranged clash originally scheduled for Boxing Day.

That match was cancelled on Christmas Day after Dale informed the EFL they were unable to fulfil the fixture due to a Covid outbreak.

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