Peterborough United reaction: ‘Rotherham will be motivated by Swann’s comments, the rudderless EFL, it’s only safe to play if you’re in the play-offs, and the word ‘gullible’ has been taken out of the dictionary’

My Peterborough United article in the Peterborough Telegraph last week about the ever-developing EFL farce caused a stir among fans of League One clubs and the EFL themselves.
The PT article on the EFL farce.The PT article on the EFL farce.
The PT article on the EFL farce.

Here are a selection of replies and my responses to some of them. Unsurprisingly most opinion followed partisan lines.

Farce is an understatement! It’s the beginning of the end for the lower leagues. How on earth can Wycombe vote to stop everyone else playing and then play on themselves? It’s a disgrace. The EFL is absolutely rudderless with the tail wagging the dog from day one!

@davidwh1971

The article on www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk which caused a stir.The article on www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk which caused a stir.
The article on www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk which caused a stir.
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The thing we will never know is how much damage and delay has been put into the process by Darragh MacAnthony’s ‘I’ll sue them’ rant.

@coughcat.

Swanny says: It’s a fair point, but would the EFL and League One clubs really be so petty?

You hit the nail on the head in every sentence. There is so much wrong in what is going to happen. I’d love to hear what the EFL would say on reading this. I also fear a lot of fan trouble looming when various sides meet next time.

Rotherham United will be motivated by a PT article if League One ever resumes, according to one contributor.Rotherham United will be motivated by a PT article if League One ever resumes, according to one contributor.
Rotherham United will be motivated by a PT article if League One ever resumes, according to one contributor.

@PaulPosh

Swanny says: The EFL did respond to me privately. but failed to change my opinion. I doubt there will be future crowd trouble. Twitter is good for opinion, but it isn’t anywhere near representative of society as a whole.

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The EFL have announced they intend to finish promotion and relegation for League 1 and 2 before the end of June. It basically means they have already made their mind up to curtail season, but don’t have the balls to actually say so. They are banking on clubs to do it for them.

@RutlandSpinner

Swanny says: I’m not ruling this theory out.

As a Tranmere Rovers fan living in Peterborough for 20 years, this is the best article I’ve read from you.

@PaulBurrowsy

Your best work in donkeys’ years and thanks to the paper for allowing it and permitting the required words and space - agreed with nigh on every word - written from the heart, but also factually spot on.

@HillingdonPosh

The latest voting delay is potentially positive for Posh. Maybe the Premier League putting dates on their fixtures will focus minds and make people realise it is possible to get the season finished.

@J_P_Wilson

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Swanny says: It’s a lovely thought, but Posh don’t see it this way.

I genuinely feel for Posh, just as I feel for us (Oxford) as we almost certainly won’t have the chance to compete for the top two. But let’s get real here. If Posh were mid-table with nothing to play for, I do not believe for one minute you would be voting to play on at the moment. No chance.

@Si_Watts

Swanny says: Si claims to know what others are thinking. Knowing the Posh chairman and manager as I do I suspect Si is wrong.

We need a restart date for League One ASAP. Apparently though it’ll somehow financially cripple some clubs. But not those in the play-offs. And any that will be financially crippled will be OK by August. Oh and I hear they’ve taken the word gullible out of the dictionary...

@talkSPORTDrive

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Hope you’ve got a big plate of chips for all those salty tears. Why can’t you accept that you’ve simply not been good enough this season?

@swearmeister

Swanny says: Posh have been good enough to be within three points of second with nine games to go. Your point can’t be made truthfully until every side has played every other side home and away.

Wow! What a powerful article

Hard to argue with any point made in the whole thing, especially the 3+pts being awarded for one game!

@cjsmith1980

If the Premier League plays out the season so should the rest of the Football League otherwise it is a complete farce.

@Dazzzzzzler

Swanny says: Indeed.

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So killing clubs who can’t afford to play on is ok? League One and Two clubs can’t afford the losses that come with so many games behind closed doors.

@johnmac8789

Swanny says: John is a Wycombe fan. Wycombe want to stop the season for everyone apart those in the play-off picture which includes Wycombe.

Wycombe state players’ safety comes first, yet they’ll happily participate in the play-offs. That’s contradictory

@poshbox8

If it has been deemed safe to play and the EFL really want the season played out, but want clubs to vote on it knowing what positions they’ll be in I feel there has to a consequence, like a 10 points deduction next season, to those voting to end this season.

@OfficialNT.

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Swanny says: No worse an idea than some of those the EFL look like implementing.

I agree 100% with Alan Swann, not as a Posh fan, but as a football fan who believes in the integrity of the competition.

@IanJBryant

It is beyond some to understand Posh don’t want anything given to us, but we do want the chance to earn it off our own backs. That’s as far from selfish as you can get.

@MaxCasper101

Swanny says: Well said!

The EFL are scared of being sued. If they want to play the season out, why are they not doing so? Instead they are looking to change their rules.

@CHAMM24

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Swanny says: EFL leadership has been painfully weak throughout. They claim to want the season to play out, but have done nothing as far as I can see to make it happen.

The FA need to step in. The EFL is finished as an organisation.

@CarlosFendango

Swanny says: I have no faith in the FA either after the way they treated non-league football during this crisis.

What are the EFL doing? Just make a decision, you’re the ones in charge.

@Marcus40555248

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The season should be played out or declared null and void. If you can’t benefit every club then you should benefit no-one. PPG is a farce and a cop out from the EFL

@alexdrummond95

Swanny says: Spot on.

Rotherham fans just seem to be particularly triggered by the notion that they should actually have to earn promotion.

@petewass

Swanny says: I’m baffled by the angry reaction of Rotherham and Wycombe fans to anyone who dares to suggest they have earned nothing so far. It’s a fact. They haven’t. If I was a fan of either club I’d just admit we’ve been lucky as it’s not the fault of the fans. Instead we are supposed to accept an obviously unjust outcome and ignore the facts that make it so.

If we do end up finishing the season, and I still think we should do our best to, you will not find a more motivated club than Rotherham as the dressing room will be full of Swann’s vitriol. Darragh MacAnthony, Barry Fry and Swann have embarrassed a once decent club.

@Jona77

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Swanny says: You’re confusing ‘vitriol’ with actual facts and I’d love to think my comments impact on your club, but I somehow doubt I would be their prime motivation.

The writer suffers from tunnel vision. His criticism of the EFL might be justified, but his vitriol towards Rotherham is not.

@aka_manicmillar

Swanny says: It’s not virtiolic to say Rotherham a) are not certain to finish second if the season is played out (a fact), b) their run-in is a lot harder than Posh’s and other clubs towards the top (opinion, but backed up by league positions), c) they had the jitters when the season was halted (no wins in three games, including two against lowly MK Dons and Rochdale) and d) if they are so confident of automatic promotion why are they voting to end the season (a fair question)?

Great article. It’s a pure farce. The EFL are a joke. Anyone disagreeing is always from Rotherham or Wycombe. I wonder why? I’d never sell, loan or buy a player from these clubs again if I was a club owner.

@CraigDLyons

Just wondering. Did Peterborough ever appear in the top 6?

@mayor_n

Swanny says: Apart from right now you mean? Well yes they were second in December.

A great analysis of what is an outrageous situation.

@Faugeres34