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The EFL are reportedly looking at ending the current campaign and asking clubs which is the best way to decide relegation and promotion

Gillingham’s League 1 season could officially be over next week, according to reports.

The EFL are understood to be working on a way to end the current campaign and a 'weighted' points per game system appears to be the preferred method.

Gillingham's last league game was on March 7 at Sunderland Picture: Ady Kerry
Gillingham's last league game was on March 7 at Sunderland Picture: Ady Kerry

Bosses at Gillingham this week admitted their hopes of ending the current campaign before the end of July were looking unlikely and suggested a period of hibernation, concluding the season in the autumn.

But it now seems, according to The Athletic, that the 2019/20 campaign may well be cancelled, although promotion and relegation issues may still be decided upon.

A weighted points per game method could be used to decide who finishes where. That would balance out the difference between some teams having played more home games than away, and vice versa. Total points would be based on a formula combining average home and away points.

The Gills have five home games and four away matches left of the campaign.

Finishing the season on that basis would mean Coventry City - who currently lead the table - going up as champions, joined by Rotherham United and Oxford United.

For the Gills, they would move up one place, finishing 10th and trading places with the division's big spenders Ipswich Town.

Tranmere Rovers, Southend United and Bolton Wanderers would be relegated.

Gills boss Steve Evans has previously been against finishing the season on average points. He ideally wants the season to finish and if that's not possible then it should be declared null and void.

In League 2 there would be just the one relegation place, with Stevenage falling into the National League. Swindon, Crewe, Plymouth and Cheltenham would be the teams promoted into League 1.

Charlton Athletic, Luton Town and Barnsley would be relegated from the Championship.

Not everybody would be happy with such an outcome, and Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony has already said on twitter he would take legal action if that’s the case.

He said the EFL should “prepare for a legal battle of epic proportions and that won't just be from our club, trust me on that.”

Gillingham haven’t played since March 7 when they drew 2-2 with Sunderland. They currently sit 11th in the League 1 table.

Boss Steve Evans was keen to finish the season but knows there are many complexities to that at present. The Gills were hoping for a shot at the play-offs but it’s now unlikely they will take place.

EFL chairman Rick Parry told MPs on the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee earlier this week that a decision on the outcome was “days away.”

The EFL had wanted the season wrapped up by the end of July.

National League clubs are also awaiting a decision on what will happen and they may well be waiting on what the EFL do.

Gillingham would be light on numbers if the league was to restart any time soon. Both Olly Lee and Jordan Roberts have had their loan deals ended.

Read more on the Gills

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