Last week, the FA, the Premier League and the EFL made the unprecedented decision to suspend all footballing activity until the 3rd April due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Whilst the situation will be reassessed in a few weeks’ time, it does not look likely that the football season will resume on that date as the virus is not going to go away any time soon.

I share the view held by the league and most club officials that the league season should be completed in some shape and form. It is perfectly reasonable to give this season a chance to finish. Euro 2020 has been postponed to 2021 by UEFA, which will provide some leeway for the top leagues to be concluded. I do not think too many professional teams would be against playing into the summer months, although this would have its own challenges altogether.

How long will it take for players to get match-fit again? Where will cup matches fit in? What will happen with contracts expiring? What will happen with the transfer window? What will the impact be on the following season? These are some of the questions that the footballing bodies and clubs will have to answer.

A second option – which is supported by a minority – is to declare this season as void with no promotion or relegation and start afresh next season. For the realists, it looks very likely that this may turn out to be the only option. It would avoid those uncertainties with finishing the current season at a later date. This rationale believes that it would make sense to have one season, in essence, ruined rather than two. As much as I would hate to see this happen, I do not think it can be ruled out completely, especially in non-league football. However, like all the other scenarios, declaring the season as void has its own complications.

Last week, West Ham United Vice-Chairman Karen Brady controversially gave her backing for the Premier League to be made ‘null and void’ over coronavirus, declaring it as the ‘only fair and reasonable thing to do’.

I hardly agree that it is a ‘fair’ thing to do, especially in the higher tiers of the English game where there is so much at stake financially. For instance, it would serve some teams much better than others like Brady’s West Ham, who are threatened by relegation. It would be completely unfair on the likes of Liverpool, Leeds and West Bromwich Albion, amongst a host of other teams, that have worked extremely hard to find themselves in favourable positions as they approach the end of the season.

It is arguably almost as unfair as if the leagues were terminated immediately and the current standings were used to determine the league winners, promotion and relegation, which has been put forward as an option to solve the crisis. There has been talk, however, that the Premier League could face legal action from relegated clubs if the season was ended as it is and for this reason, I do not think this option is practical at all.

Alternatively, there have been calls to cancel the season, but hand Liverpool the title and promote Leeds and West Brom to the Premier League, extending it to 22 teams for next season. Whilst this has gained credibility as an option, it would still be unfair on those other teams vying for promotion in the Championship, whilst it does not solve the issue of how European qualification will be determined.

I agree with Brady, however, on the fact that public health must be prioritised over everything else and if this season cannot be fulfilled then football must take the hit regardless of whether the final decision seems unfair and ruthless. Although some of the measures may seem irrational at the moment, these are unprecedented times and drastic measures may have to be taken to get over this short-term hump for long-term gain.

Personally, I believe the English leagues should be given every opportunity to be completed before we hastily make the decision to void this season in one form or another. If this means extending the professional leagues into the summer, then so be it, but plans must consider the scale of disruption on football clubs at all levels and future campaigns. Cancelling this football season must remain on the table as a last resort and, due to the uncertainty surrounding the virus, I would not rule it out from happening.

13th March: All professional football in England postponed until at least 3rd April. Uefa postpones all matches scheduled for 17th-19th March.

16th March: The FA advises for all grassroots football to be postponed indefinitely.

17th March: UEFA confirms that Euro 2020 will be postponed indefinitely until summer 2021