Peterborough United want the EFL to stop following and start leading by announcing the start date for the 2020-21 season
Peterborough United director of football Barry Fry insists the EFL need to stand up to dithering clubs by announcing the start date of the 2020-21 season as soon as possible.
Fry believes some clubs don’t want to start the new season until fans are allowed in grounds as they fear they won’t survive the loss of revenue from matchday income once they bring their players and staff out of furlough.
But Fry is adamant the EFL must start leading rather than following.
He wants a definite 2020-21 start date to emerge from today’s (July 1) EFL meeting.
EFL chairman Rick Parry did hint at progress prior to the meeting by suggesting fans could be allowed in grounds as soon as the new season does start.
“I read before the meeting that the EFL were going to discuss the 2020-21 start date with the clubs,” Fry said.
“And I think that is wrong. There are still clubs out there who don’t want to play until fans are allowed back into grounds.
“And it’s criminal that these clubs are allowed to dictate to the EFL the timing of the new season.
“The EFL need to start leading. They need to be firm and announce a start date that all clubs must prepare for.
“We need to know that date now. I’ve heard August 29 suggested as well as September 12, but it has be firmed up.
“We intend to get our players in two months before the season starts because it will have been six months between competitive matches for us and that is far too long.
“The players normally get a couple of months off in the summer so this year it’s going to take longer to get up to full fitness.
“It’s been a miserable few months for football in general and for us in particular and we all desperately need some good news.
“I hope it’s right that fans will be allowed back in the grounds as soon as the season starts. I hope and I believe it will be seen as safe by then.
“We want to play again as soon as it’s possible and I believe most other League One clubs now want the same.”
Posh haven’t played a competitive match since beating Portsmouth 2-0 in a League One game at the Weston Homes Stadium on March 7.
Parry is ‘cautiously optimistic’ that fans will be watching when Posh next play again.