Peterborough United could yet win promotion through the League One play-offs

It’s widely expected that EFL clubs will vote to null and void the rest of the 2019-20 League One and League Two campaigns in the next few days.

But further votes will be required to decide who wins promotion and according to reports in two national newspapers this weekend, play-offs could still happen with Wembley hosting all the additional matches.

The Times reported yesterday (May 9) that the play-off semi-finals would be one-off matches rather than two-legged affairs and be followed quickly by a final.

The Mail on Sunday report today that those play-off matches could take place in July.

If true, Posh have to make sure they finish in the top six which is not certain according to the Mail on Sunday who believe EFL clubs will vote for a straightforward points-per-game average to settle the leading positions which would see Darren Ferguson’s side drop from sixth to seventh, one place outside the play-offs.

The Mail on Sunday describe this, bizarrely, as ‘the least worst option’ claiming a weighted points per game average which takes into account home form would mean ‘too many hostages to fortune with clubs complaining about the relative difficulty of their home and away fixtures prior to lockdown’.

Posh would finish fifth and make the play-offs if a weighted points-per-game formula was applied. This is the formula English Rugby Union applied to calculate their final positions.

Current top two Coventry and Rotherham would go up automatically to the Championship regardless of which forumal was applied.

Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony has threatened to launch an epic legal action if the 2019-20 season is voided and his side are denied the chance to challenge for promotion.

Posh are currently sixth in League One with nine games to go, five of which are at home against teams currently in the bottom half of the division. Posh have the third best home record in League One.