Colchester United to take on Exeter City in play-offs

League Two clubs this afternoon voted overwhelmingly to formally end the season.

And that will mean John McGreal's side will battle it out with Exeter over two legs in the semi-finals for the right to take on either Northampton Town or Cheltenham Town at Wembley.

Colchester will be at home in the first leg on Thursday, June 18 with a  5.15pm kick-off.

The second leg will see the U's travel to Exeter on Monday June 22, with a 5.15pm kick-off.

The League Two play-off final will then take place at Wembley on June 29, with a 7.30pm kick-off.

U's boss McGreal told the Gazette: “It’s a fantastic achievement to get into the play-offs. The boys are really excited and so are the staff, too.

“It’s all systems go now and it just cements a good season for us to date."

League Two clubs had previously indicated their preference for curtailment but following today’s Extraordinary General Meeting, Clubs were required to pass a resolution in accordance with Regulation 9A.

As a result, the final League standings have now been confirmed.

That means that Swindon Town have been confirmed as champions with Crewe Alexandra and Plymouth Argyle securing the second and third automatic promotion places to League One.

The U's, Exeter, Cheltenham and Northampton will contest the play-offs.

Under the proposals agreed by clubs, the 24th-placed club in League Two will be relegated to the National League provided the Board receives the necessary assurances that the National League will start season 2020/21 (i.e. the relegated club in League Two has somewhere to play).

Due to ongoing disciplinary matters, the final placings cannot yet be confirmed but it looks like either Macclesfield Town or Stevenage are in danger of the drop.

It follows a video conference meeting between EFL clubs this morning on how the season should resume or end following its suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic, clubs voted to adopt the league's framework for deciding final placings if the season is curtailed.

The EFL board had proposed a framework which would keep promotion and relegation, retain the four-team play-offs and decide the final league tables on an unweighted points-per-game basis.

The proposal needed 51 per cent of the vote in any division.

An EFL statement said: "At an Extraordinary General Meeting on Tuesday 9 June, EFL Clubs voted on proposals in respect of changes to EFL Regulations in the event season 2019/20 is curtailed.

"Proposals were submitted by Barnsley and Tranmere Rovers alongside amendments to an EFL Board proposal which were put forward by Lincoln City, Stevenage and Ipswich Town.

"Following a vote on each by all 71 Clubs, it was overwhelmingly agreed (by a majority of all Clubs and a majority in the Championship) to adopt the EFL Board’s proposal into EFL Regulations, which now means the following applies in the event a division curtails its 2019/20 season or it is ended by any other means.

"Final divisional placings will be determined on unweighted points per game (if required).

"Promotion and relegation should be retained.

"Play-Offs will be played in all circumstances but will not be extended (beyond four teams).

"EFL Chair, Rick Parry, said: “Whilst it has always remained the Board’s position to play the remainder of the season where possible, the decision reached at today’s meeting follows a full and considered consultation period with our member Clubs. The Board has endeavoured to listen to all views and alternative approaches but understands that the decisions taken will not be met with universal satisfaction from all Clubs.

“Today’s outcome ensures that the League and its Clubs remains as faithful as possible to the previously agreed Regulations and that there is consistency in the approach adopted across the EFL in all divisions if required.

“It is clear that the challenges facing the League from the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic are unprecedented and I thank the contribution of EFL Clubs in making this important determination.”