Portsmouth's League One rivals Tranmere propose alternative solution to resolve season

Rovers have suggested a statistical ‘margin for error’ in a points-per-game system should be used if the 2019-20 season is curtailed.

Tranmere have been steadfast that remaining fixtures should be fulfilled amid the coronavirus crisis – a stance that Pompey have also taken.

The EFL laid out its framework to clubs last week stating it prefers for games to be completing, although the season could be ended prematurely should 51 per cent of clubs vote to do so. Promotion and relegation will still apply.

As things stand, the campaign is edging towards curtailment, which would see Tranmere relegated.

Chairman Mark Palios has stressed it’s an unfair way to settle the season, however. He’s stated 21st-placed Rovers have a game in hand on AFC Wimbledon despite being three points adrift of safety and had won their past three games before the shutdown of football in March.

Ahead of today’s EFL board meeting, Tranmere have proposed that relegation should not happen – or only demote sides once a points-per-game margin of error has been applied.

That would compare the final league table of previous seasons with the table at this stage of the campaign.

Rovers have pinpointed if the basic points-per-game system had been applied this time last season then AFC Wimbledon, Rochdale and Oxford would have been demoted – despite going on to survive.

The margin of error would also apply to the play-offs, although Pompey will enter the traditional four-team tournament if a simple PPG method is used.

A club statement read: ‘Tranmere Rovers is requesting the EFL Board to put a proposal forward for EFL Clubs to vote on. We recognise that the proposal may need some additional work around the detail.

‘In our view that is something which should be done in collaboration with clubs. This would be routine stake-holder management and we see no reason why it would need to be a time-consuming exercise.

‘If a decision is taken by a division to end their season now (or indeed at some point in the future but before all of the fixtures are completed):

a) The league table is calculated using a simple PPG basis;

b) There is then applied to the table the statistical average actual margin for error over the last 3 years (being +6.3 or – 5.45%);

c) Teams in the automatic promotion spots even where the margin for error is applied, should be automatically promoted;

d) Teams in the play-off places or who could be in the play-off places where the margin for error is applied should be invited (but not compelled) to compete in a play-off tournament;

and

e) There would either be no relegations, or relegations only of clubs who would be relegated even after the margin of error has been applied.’