MK Dons finally reveal vote stance as Portsmouth, Sunderland and Peterborough push for League One season to continue
The outcome of the campaign is expected to be resolved in the coming week.
Debate continues over whether to resume the fixture list – or end the season and purely stage the play-offs.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdPompey, Peterborough, Sunderland and Tranmere are among those keen for the campaign to be completed.
However, Wycombe, Shrewsbury and Accrington favour it being scrapped.
MK Dons estimate it will cost them around £500,000 to continue, while would finish in 18th place- above the relegation zone – should unweighted points per game be used.
And executive director Andrew Cullen insists they will go with the majority.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdHe told the MK Citizen: ‘Our position all along has been that we'll be consistent with what the league wants to do.
‘That's the same process we took with player deferrals with wages – we didn't want to ask the players to do something no-one else was doing.
‘This situation is exactly the same - if the majority want to continue, then we'll continue.
‘There is a lot of dialogue to go ahead in the next few days, and a lot of clubs will be lobbying each other.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad‘Our first duty is to MK Dons, but we recognise we're a part of a league, and we want to see that league intact with all its members.
‘We all saw the chaos which kicked off in August when Bury were expelled, and that has compromised sporting integrity this season, with clubs having weeks off and Bolton fielding a youth team until the end of August.
‘But if we cannot carry on, we're happy with points per game as a solution, with promotion and play-offs.
‘We will look again at the solutions, what it means economically and for integrity.’
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdPompey chief executive Mark Catlin last week admitted he felt the balance had tipped in favour of calling off the season.
And Cullen admits he can emphasise with arguments put forward by all clubs.
He added: ‘It's a minefield, because there are so many vested interests.
‘I feel for Peterborough, Sunderland and Tranmere because they will be most affected by this.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad‘What they're trying to do at the moment is make a lot of noise, and I completely understand and empathise because it's right for their football clubs, and rightly they want to play on.
‘But on the other side of the coin, there are other clubs who could go out of business by playing on. It's so difficult to divorce yourself from the argument.’
Comment Guidelines
National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.