West Brom will vote to play on if EFL hold ballot

Earlier this week, the EFL put forward a draft proposal for how the 2019/20 season could end if the coronavirus pandemic cuts it short.

Football chiefs proposed the Championship, League One or League Two could be curtailed if 51 per cent of clubs vote in favour.

That would see divisions settled with an unweighed points system – meaning Albion and Leeds would win automatic promotion to the Premier League.

It has not yet been decided if that vote will take place.

But the Express & Star understands if it does, Albion will vote to play on with the Baggies backing themselves to win promotion on the pitch.

Both the EFL and Premier League are determined every possible effort is made to conclude the season and have issued clubs with phased plans for how they should return to training.

And Albion too believe the Championship's remaining 108 matches should be played if it is safe to do so - with head coach Slaven Bilic also eager to play on.

"The players have been asking, their main question is when is it going to re-start, is it going to continue?" Bilic said.

"It is still the question now. It's 'any news, any news?'

"And we are still waiting but it's all very positive now.

"Up until a week ago, it looked like it was almost impossible to finish the season.

"Now it is much brighter, it looks as though we are moving forward and moving closer to that day when we are going to be able to train normally.

"That will put us in a situation where maybe the games will come soon and that is the biggest motivation we can have at the moment.

"I think we are getting there, hopefully, thanks to the people who are working hard to get us there - like the NHS in the first place.

"Thanks to them because they give us the possibility that we are going to start playing soon."

Bilic continued: "The players are positive and they have worked hard.

"Even six weeks ago, four weeks ago when it didn't look like we would be playing they worked hard.

"Now, thank god, the situation is improving and they are much, much better.

"Their smile is bigger, they are more motivated, they are more up for it and they are happier because they can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

"We didn't stop training, why because first we have to be ready for the games.

"But also because we want the season to finish on the pitch and that is why we are preparing ourselves really hard and why we never dropped

"We know so far we have done well and we are in a good position.

"But we still know we have to be on the top of our game and we have to work really hard to finish the season in the way we want it to finish."