Peterborough United want to play Northampton in January as Darragh MacAnthony prepares to forgive the EFL

Peterborough United co-owner Darragh MacAnthony is surprised and disappointed the first few weeks of the League One season look set to be played behind closed doors.
By Alan Swann
Published 23rd Jul 2020, 13:07 BST
Action from the last Posh v Northampton League One match in April, 2018.Action from the last Posh v Northampton League One match in April, 2018.
Action from the last Posh v Northampton League One match in April, 2018.

MacAnthony hoped to see a reduced capacity in operation at the Weston Homes Stadium by the expected start date of September 12.

But in a statement issued to the country last week UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson decreed crowds would only start to be allowed back in to sporting stadia from October 1.

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Now MacAnthony is hoping common sense can be seen to have prevailed when the fixtures for the 2020-21 League One season are released, probably in the middle of August.

MacAnthony said, on his ‘Hard Truths’ podcast: “The fixtures are obviously worked out by computer, but I hope there is plenty of common sense involved.

“For instance if crowds aren’t allowed back in the grounds from the start of the season I would hope to play Fleetwood rather than Northampton early on.

“Fleetwood would only bring about 50 fans to our place whereas the Northampton game is worth about £100k to us so we want that game in January when hopefully there will be no restrictions on crowds.

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“If the EFL do that and give us a home game on the opening day, Boxing Day and the final day I might start to forgive them for what happened to us last season!

“I was suprised some sort of crowd won’t allowed back as soon as the season starts. It’s disappointing to think that the first month of the season could be played behind closed doors, but it’s vital we start playing again as soon as possible, even with no fans.

“I would have hoped some of our season ticket holders would have been allowed to watch, but now the UK Government need to get their act together and tell us now that 30% of our stadium can be used from October 1.

“We’ve actually budgeted for having no fans at the Weston Homes Stadium until January, but if we were told we could have 30% capacity from October 1 I am convinced we would immediately sell 2,000 more season tickets.

“If we could get up to 4,000 season ticket holders and they could all get to watch our home games than that would at least be something.”

Related topics:Darragh MacAnthonyLeague OneBoris JohnsonEFLNorthamptonGovernmentFleetwood