June play-off dates and Wembley final pencilled in as League One vote looms for Portsmouth, Oxford, Wycombe and Fleetwood

Pompey could be in play-off action against Oxford United by the end of the month.
The League One season is finally set to be resolved at a Football League EGM. Picture: Catherine Ivill/Getty ImagesThe League One season is finally set to be resolved at a Football League EGM. Picture: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images
The League One season is finally set to be resolved at a Football League EGM. Picture: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images

And Wembley is pencilled in to remain as the setting for the final as League One prepares to finally declare the future of its 2019-20 season.

The Football League will tomorrow morning host an EGM to pass a special resolution, centring on whether to curtail the campaign.

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League One members are invited to attend via a Zoom call, where they will be asked to vote. Those not present are able to register preference through proxy.

The outcome is anticipated to be made public later in the day, finally ending the frustrating wrangling which has dogged the League One decision.

Certainly, the likelihood is the season will be curtailed, with a points per game model deciding the four clubs occupying play-off positions.

In this case it will be Pompey, Oxford United, Fleetwood and Wycombe.

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It is hardly a coincidence that all four were the only members of League One to undertake testing for coronavirus at the end of last week. None came back positive.

Such is the confidence in League One that a play-off campaign will be the resolution to the ongoing debate, tentative talks have already been held over the possible format.

It is understood the preference at this stage is to retain the time-honoured two-legged semi-final, involving home and away fixtures.

In addition, Wembley is favoured to host the final, despite the costs associated with using the venue, particularly as any match will have to be behind closed doors.

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Nonetheless, clubs are prepared to retain the showpiece final at its natural home, rather than relocating to other neutral venues.

Similarly, a one-off semi-final match had previously been mooted, yet this now appears to have been ditched for the traditional two-legged fixture.

In Pompey’s case, they will face Oxford at both the Kassam Stadium and Fratton Park, over dates still to be finalised.

However, there is growing belief the encounter could take place before the end of June.

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This would position it behind the restarting of the Premier League (June 17) and Championship (June 20).

What’s more, it will allow those League One clubs involved to have three weeks in full training – a timeframe which has repeatedly been put forward by the Football League.

Indeed, clubs and players have also backed the concept of a three-week training programme as sufficient preparation for the resumption of football.

Pompey also remain keen on staging at least one friendly fixture ahead of the play-off semi-final first leg.

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Kenny Jackett has previously told The News he has been in talks with Premier League, Championship and League Two clubs to form opposition.

Brighton are a strong possibility, having formed friendly opponents in the each of the previous two summers.

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