Express & Star

FA booster for Wolves’ Champions League hopes

Wolves’ hopes of Champions League qualification remain alive after the FA agreed to extend the season indefinitely.

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English football’s governing body yesterday agreed to scrap legislation requiring the current campaign to finish by June 1 as the sport continues to react to the coronavirus pandemic.

The suspension of professional football was also extended with the Premier League and EFL now not due to resume until April 30 at the earliest.

It followed a Premier League teleconference yesterday morning in which clubs indicated a desire to see the season finished.

There had been speculation some might attempt to have the season declared null and void but the latest development means Wolves, who sit sixth in the table, will be back in the race for a top-four finish once the season resumes.

The news has been welcomed by Albion, who were among a group of Championship clubs prepared to take legal action should there be any attempt by top-flight counterparts to try and declare the season finished.

With a host of fixtures now set to be rescheduled, discussions will take place over the best way to complete the campaign and there remains a chance matches may initially be played behind closed doors.

The subject of player contracts set to expire at the end of June is another issue which may need addressing with the season potentially extending some way into the summer.

Fifa have established a working group to look into that particular problem and the international fixture calendar which has also been decimated.

A joint statement issued by the FA, Premier League, EFL, women’s professional game, PFA and LMA claimed the groups were ‘united’ in their commitment to finding ways to finish the season.

It continued: “The progress of Covid-19 remains unclear and we can reassure everyone the health and welfare of players, staff and supporters are our priority.

“We will continue to follow government advice and work collaboratively to keep the situation under review and explore all options available to find ways of resuming the season when the conditions allow.”