Portsmouth rival blasts EFL over delays which look set to ensure season's curtailed

And the former FA chief executive believes the delays to a vote over the destiny of the campaign has put paid to it being decided on the pitch.

Palios believes there was support for seeing out the term in the traditional manner - a position supported by his relegation-threatened club.

That’s also the stance taken by Pompey who remain firmly in that camp ahead of the key meeting among EFL members next Tuesday.

But Palios feels the hold-up in coming to a decision now makes completing the season by the end date stated by the EFL of the end of July virtually impossible.

And that now leaves a curtailed season and moving straight to the play-offs the only viable option in the third tier.

Palios told Sky Sports: ‘I think some teams thought there was still something to play for.

‘In our case it was to get away from the relegation zone and, in the case of the other guys, to achieve their aims of getting promoted.

‘Playing through was something we clearly supported, but two things happened.

‘One was the time frame wasn’t used as effectively as it could’ve been used and the decision has taken a long time to come.

‘With that comes the problems you see.

‘Where the fault line is in the EFL is in League One.

‘We have this distribution between those who want and have the finances to play.

‘And I’m a finance guy so I totally understand the positions of those who don’t want to play.

‘As we’ve gone on the chance to play out the season has virtually disappeared from us, but there’s still an opportunity to have play-offs.’