Posh back behind closed doors as Peterborough is placed into Tier 3

Posh will play Ipswich Town behind closed doors on Saturday

Supporters had been back inside the Weston Homes Stadium for the past two matches, but Darren Ferguson's men will again be playing in front of empty stands when the host the Tractor Boys in Sky Bet League One this weekend.

It has been the plan for 2,000 supporters to be allowed into London Road, but the Posh quickly announced a statement confirming those plans have been scratched.

There will also be no fans allowed in for the scheduled December 29 clash with Charlton Athletic.

"As per the latest Government announcement on Thursday morning, Peterborough has moved into Tier 3 so our Sky Bet League One fixture with Ipswich Town at the Weston Homes Stadium on Saturday will revert back to being 'behind closed doors'," read the statement on theposh.com

"The fixture with Charlton Athletic after Christmas will also be behind closed doors with Government review of tiers taking place after every two weeks."

The news was met with anger by Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony, who wrote on Twitter: "Good old Government Overreach at its finest again.

"Another nail in coffin for our industry. You can have fans back... for a game... then pull the plug again.

"More money down drain to prep for it all. Our business doesn't matter to those in charge."

And he went on: "All clubs in the EFL need to put legal fund together to look at suing Government over bailing out other industries and leaving ours to wither away with no loans on offer or proper help while stopping us earning a living.

"And no, the £400k from Premier League doesn’t scratch surface."

The Posh chairmen then went on to thank the club staff for their efforts in recent weeks.

"Well done to our staff for all hard work getting safety protocols in place for the two games we did have fans," he wrote.

"The Government just made mockery of that work/money spent to give our fans a safe space to have much needed mental break from this pandemic as they drive everybody indoors."

And, replying to a supporter who had been at last Saturday's Rochdale match and said he felt 'very safe' and enjoyed the experience, MacAnthony said: "Now the same staff will be probably furloughed which is just horrible for them and us.

"This whole thing stopping and starting is so unreasonable and lacking common sense."