Fleetwood boss Joey Barton says it would be “out of order” to settle Sky Bet League One on a point-by-game basis.
Barton ‘s side was fifth on the table when the coronavirus pandemic caused a sporting suspension, but just six points separated the third and eighth-placed teams in the division, with various teams playing differing numbers of games.
Though League Two clubs have agreed to bring their season to an early end, at one time there is no sense of unanimity. Peterborough ‘s chairman, Darragh MacAnthony, has already spoken on behalf of six clubs involved in the promotion and relegation war and shared a strong desire to play.
“We’ve got Sunderland, Peterborough, and Wycombe all scrapping for one playoff spot. It looks like Wycombe will get it if they go points-per-game”, Barton told the Talk YouTube show from Matchroom Boxing.
Barton went on to detail his concerns about both players’ livelihoods and the future survival of certain clubs if the open-ended competitive break-in activity persisted. Several high-profile Premier League stars, including Sergio Aguero, Willian, Raheem Sterling, Troy Deeney, and Glenn Murray, have expressed concern for fitness, but the feeling of Barton ‘s gut is that most of those below the ladder want and need to come back.
“I have a lot of lads in our care who want to play. They don’t have a cash surplus in the bank and many work week-to-week to month-to-month. You’ve got 1,400 players out of contract in the lower leagues. They have no money to put into the bank, children to put into school, mortgages to pay and vehicles to pay for. If the boys of the Premier League don’t want to go back because they don’t feel comfortable and have the resources to be able to do so, no problem, I’m not pushing anybody. Such clubs do not thrive. The working class that football is … if it’s safe to do so we need to crack on”, he added.
