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Sunderland boss wants League One promotion and relegation sorted by mini-tournament

PHIL PARKINSON reckons League One promotion and relegation places should be decided by a mini-tournament.

Third-tier clubs are divided on whether to complete the season or to follow League Two and draw a line under it.

 Sunderland boss Parkinson wants a mini-tournament to work out what should happen
Sunderland boss Parkinson wants a mini-tournament to work out what should happenCredit: Getty Images - Getty

But the Sunderland boss — whose side lie outside the top six on goal difference — believes there is a compromise that keeps the big issues alive while allowing mid-table clubs to avoid losing more cash.

Parky said: “There are a lot of teams capable of getting promotion still and we consider ourselves to be in that mix, as do others.

"And there are teams who don’t want to play because they have nothing to play for and would only incur costs by playing.

“So I think there is a scenario which could suit everybody where the teams fighting for promotion are allowed to play in a kind of mini-tournament to decide on the promotion places.

“And also the teams down the bottom. They have to have the opportunity to stay up.

“Surely that is a better scenario than where no games are played and you work out points per game to sort out relegation and promotion.”

SunSport told you how EFL chiefs are heading for a war with League Two clubs over relegation after the season was scrapped.

The fourth-tier sides voted 20-4 AGAINST one of their members dropping into the National League.

But the EFL may still overrule a vote to save Stevenage or Macclesfield from going down.

League chairman Rick Parry and his men have to apply the rules while they press for consistency in their own ranks.

The EFL revealed: “Having considered the protocols and costs that would be required to be met to conclude the current season, League Two clubs unanimously indicated a preferred direction of travel to curtail the campaign.

“Clubs asked consideration be given to suspending relegation.

“No commitments were made in this respect and the board will now consider the implications of the division’s preferred approach at their next meeting.”

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