The proposals before Peterborough United and the rest of the EFL clubs ahead of the crunch vote

As per the Doncaster Free Press, relegation-threatened Tranmere are suggesting a modified points per game proposal which allows for a margin for error by calculating position on points per game and applying an average margin of error from the past three years.

The ‘margin for error’ calculation takes account of data from the previous three seasons showing on average the inaccuracy of the unweighted points per game calculation, both negative and positive. A formula for calculating the points range has been produced, giving each club their own FPR (final points range).

Clubs will be reprieved from relegation if their FPR overlaps with the FPR of any club outside the relegation places

Clubs in the automatic promotion places will only receive automatic promotion if their FPR does not overlap with the FPR of a club outside the automatic places

Should the FPR of a club in the automatic places overlap with a club outside the automatic places, they will instead compete in the play-offs. The number of promotion places decided by a play-off competition will therefore increase.

Clubs will qualify for the play-offs if their FPR overlaps with any club inside the normal play-off positions.

Each division will be given the opportunity to opt out of the ‘margin for error’ method once it has been voted into EFL regulations

Should no club be relegated from League Two, only one promotion place will be made available to the National League. Divisions may play the 2020/21 season with an increased or reduced number of teams should the usual number of relegations not take place

The number of relegation places for the 2020/21 season will adapt to ensure the 2021/22 season is played with the correct number of clubs in each division.

Under Tranmere’s proposal Coventry would be promoted automatically, but current second-placed club Rotherham would join Wycombe, Oxford, Fleetwood, Portsmouth, Posh, Sunderland and Doncaster in an eight-team from which two clubs would also be promoted.

Also current bottom two Bolton and Southend would be relegated, but Tranmere, who currently occupy the third relegation place, would be reprieved. Only two clubs would go down, four would come up from League Two and League One would have 25 for one season only.

Other proposals.

Barnsley are proposing that no clubs should be relegated if fixtures are not completed in the traditional fashion.

Lincoln have made suggestions based around weighting the points per game system in the face of the season being curtailed. Chief executive Liam Scully has stated one of their comments was centred on Bolton’s 12-point deduction. Scully pointed out the EFL PPG calculation does not factor in their points earned on the pitch, which he deemed ‘illogical’.

Stevenage are arguing for an amendment which will see no teams relegated from the fourth tier. The EFL’s current unweighted points per game table would see relegation and promotion applied - Stevenage finish bottom of League Two in that scenario.

Ipswich are forwarding an amendment around how the play-off format would unfold in League One. They would look like to see a straight 10-team tournament with three teams gaining promotion. The Tractor Boys currently sit 10th in the table and manager Paul Lambert has stated he expects the season to be called off next week.At Tuesday’s vote, all 71 EFL clubs must first vote in favour of amending the EFL regulations and if it does votes on the other proposals will follow. For a proposal to pass 51% of the clubs must vote in favour.

Barnsley’s proposal will be addressed first. If it gains the support of the majority, its impact on all other proposals will be discussed.

Tranmere’s proposal will be addressed second. If it gains the support of the majority, there will be no need to discuss any other proposals

Should Tranmere’s proposal not gain the support of the majority, the three amendments to the EFL proposal put forward by Lincoln, Stevenage and Ipswich will be addressed and voted upon.

Then, either the EFL’s original proposal, or a potentially amended version will be addressed and voted upon.

Should neither the EFL’s proposal nor Tranmere’s proposal gain the required majority, clubs will be required to fulfil the remainder of their 2019/20 fixtures, with the EFL board meeting at a later date to discuss how to proceed.

It’s likely League One clubs will reject all new proposals and vote to end the season now, while applying an unweighted points-per-game average to determine final league positions which would mean Posh are left to languish in League One again.