Close transfer windows call to ease coronavirus contract chaos

But with World War Two the nearest precedent to the current disruption, Richard Cramer warns clubs will have to abandon self-interest to rewrite the rules if the suspension of matches is extended.

On Friday, the Premier League and Football League postponed games until at least April 4 to try to help contain the highly-contagious COVID-19 virus.

The National and Northern Premier Leagues decided to play at the weekend, but Harrogate Town and York City’s were among 11 National League matches postponed in spite of that ruling, which will be revisited today.

With the virus not expected to peak until mid-June, it is hard to see English professional football resuming on April 4, and the authorities may have to consider extending or abandoning the 2019-20 season, with huge legal ramifications.

Cramer thinks extending contracts due to expire at the end of June and allowing clubs to trade freely until the end of next season would help.

“They will have to make amendments to all kinds of competition rules,” said Cramer. “Normally, contracts end on June 30, but if they’re still playing in July, changes will be unavoidable.

“I suspect they will extend players’ contracts to July 31 or August 31, but where do they stand if they have already agreed another deal (for next season)?

“They might initially just extend to July 31, then review it again.

“The stakeholders in the game will all have to participate in the decision-making. The players would have to accept it as an exceptional situation.

“Lifting the transfer window this coming summer, and in January, would be very easy for FIFA to do and a big step towards creating a bit of stability. It’s a bit of a no-brainer in my view.

“On the other hand, they may want to keep the transfer regulations, and if the matches can’t be played by then it will almost certainly lead to the abolition of the season.”

Leeds United and Rotherham United are in automatic promotion places in the Championship and League One, and Barnsley are in the second tier’s relegation zone. Premier League Sheffield United are outside of the Europa League placings on goal difference, with a game in hand on the teams above.

“There was a big freeze in the winter of 1962-63 when one game was postponed 15 times, but at least then you knew it was eventually going to thaw,” argued Cramer. “The nearest thing to equate it to would be the outbreak of World War Two when the season started but had to be cancelled in September.

“Then there was never going to be a chance of finishing the season, this time there might be. It might mean playing a couple of midweek games each week, but it’s possible.

“I think teams would rather play more often than not have the chance to get promoted but there would have to be a debate amongst all the clubs. It would then be down to the boards of the leagues to make the decision.

“It might be easier in the Premier League, but below that there are also play-offs. I expect the European Championships to be postponed (UEFA will consider that tomorrow), so that will help.

“Unless there’s a dramatic improvement, I can’t see matches resuming on April 4. If we go another two weeks without football there’s a chance of getting the games in before the end of the season but if we get to the end of May with no end in sight, I don’t see how we can finish the season.

“Some clubs are going to be delighted, others who at this stage almost seem to be guaranteed promotion will be devastated but we’ve got to hope the chairmen are going to look at the situation for the good of the game as a whole.

“It’s time to say to the chief executives of the football clubs and the leagues you get paid a ton of money because of your experience and intelligence, put it into play now.

“(Former Premier League chief executive) Richard Scudamore would have been fantastic because of his experience. Rick Parry and Dave Baldwin at the Football League are very experienced operators so I’m confident they will make the right decisions.”