EFL hold meetings with clubs over start date for next season

The EFL are at loggerheads with some of their clubs over the start date for next season. 

Many clubs in League One and League Two are lobbying for a delayed kick-off that would enable them to save hundreds of thousands of pounds in wages, but such a move would make it hard to squeeze in the fixtures.

At divisional meetings with the EFL this week, the clubs were given two possible start dates for next season — August 29 and September 12 — and asked to provide feedback before a decision later this month.

Many clubs in League One and League Two are lobbying for a delayed kick-off due to wages

Sportsmail believes the smaller clubs in particular want to start as late as possible, as that would enable them to put off the date they have to begin paying their players.

Clubs are not eligible to receive furlough money from the Government once their players have returned to training, so pushing back the usual mid-August start would enable them to save up to a month’s wages.

Based on the proposed salary cap levels that are expected to be introduced this summer, that would lead to savings of around £200,000 in League One and £125,000 in League Two.

Northampton won the League Two play-offs at Wembley and earned promotion to League One