Edinburgh City boss James McDonaugh urges SPFL chiefs to make call on remainder of season

Edinburgh City boss James McDonaugh says he and his players are relishing the return to League Two action – they just don’t know how many fixtures they are to fulfil.
Edinburgh City are set to resume playing on March 20 - and manager James McDonaugh is urging SPFL chiefs to decide on the formatEdinburgh City are set to resume playing on March 20 - and manager James McDonaugh is urging SPFL chiefs to decide on the format
Edinburgh City are set to resume playing on March 20 - and manager James McDonaugh is urging SPFL chiefs to decide on the format

The green light was signalled earlier this week by the Scottish Government for Leagues One and Two to restart following a two-month shutdown in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19.

However, the SPFL’s proposal of an 18-game season instead of the scheduled 27 matches, has not set the heather on fire in Scottish football’s third and fourth tiers with the governing body, in turn, unreceptive to a revised calendar of 22 matches tabled by the 20 clubs as a compromise.

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The season is set to resume on Saturday, March 20 but there are still a lot of answers needed before a ball is even kicked.

McDonaugh revealed his squad will take part in a double training session on Saturday should they return no positive Covid results from a round of testing carried out on Thursday night.

Edinburgh City have completed nine league fixtures to date and currently occupy fifth spot in Scottish football’s fourth tier, five points off the play-off places and the Citizens boss feels the 22-game proposal is one that league bosses should seriously consider.

“The worst-case scenario is that we don’t play any football – that’s the one you want to avoid,” McDonaugh told the Evening News.

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“But the next worst for me would be an 18-game season which is what the SPFL are proposing.

“I agree that 27 games is probably unachievable now given the time constraints but I think the clubs have been really creative with the 22-match proposal.

"I think it’s a really good compromise between the 18 and 27. There just seems to be a real lack of leadership from those who are supposed to make these decisions.

“When Nicola Sturgeon announced on Tuesday that we could return, there should have been a decision made and let’s get on with it. But instead it has been put back on the clubs.

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“What happens if we can’t come to a resolution and there is no agreement? Then what do we do? Will we ever get to play?

"We’ll get back to training tomorrow and take it from there.”

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