League One: Mixed fortunes for Welshmen as clubs vote to end season early
The decision taken by clubs in League One to end the current campaign early has seen the final table settled, with promotion, play-offs and relegation all decided.
The League One table was decided on a points-per-game basis, which has resulted in positive and negative outcomes for Welshmen plying their trade in England’s third tier.
While not part of the playing staff, there was the ultimate success for Aled Williams, a goalkeeping coach at Coventry City. The new points-per-game ruling means the Sky Blues were confirmed as champions and will play in the Championship next season.
Joining them in the second tier will be Rotherham United, who finished as runners-up. Goalkeeper Lewis Price and Shaun MacDonald, the former Swansea City midfielder, both played their part in the Millers’ immediate return to the Championship.
The English Football League (EFL) have confirmed that the play-off matches will go ahead, as planned, behind closed doors. A number of Welshmen will be lining up against each other in these games, with Wycombe Wanderers, Oxford United, Portsmouth and Fleetwood Town set to do battle for the final promotion place.
Wycombe Wanderers will take on Fleetwood Town, a match which could include no less than five Welsh representatives. Wycombe’s goalscoring left-back Joe Jacobson and striker Alex Samuel will be hoping to continue the club’s success against Fleetwood’s trio of Welshmen: Wes Burns, Ched Evans and Macauley Southam-Hales.
The other play-off semi-final pits Portsmouth’s Ellis Harrison – the striker who has played 28 times this season – against Ben Woodburn’s Oxford United, though the attacking midfielder on loan from Liverpool missed much of the campaign after suffering a broken foot in a 2-2 draw against Accrington Stanley back in October.
At the opposite end of the table, there was less favourable news for centre-back George Ray, who made 15 appearances for Tranmere Rovers. Having been promoted from League Two in the 2018-19 campaign, their points-per-game figure of 0.94 means they were confirmed as finishing in 21st place, and will return to the fourth tier for next season.
Similarly, youngster Callum King-Harmes suffered relegation with Bolton Wanderers, though the 18-year-old did make five appearances for the Trotters and will be looking to continue his development with the club next term.
Elsewhere, there are some familiar names in League One who will be looking to develop off the back of this season. Ipswich Town’s trio of Gwion Edwards, James Wilson and Emyr Huws were regulars for the East Anglian side as they finished 11th.
Joe Walsh and former Manchester United man Regan Poole will hope to develop their partnership at MK Dons, who narrowly avoided relegation with a 19th-placed finish.
Finally, a special mention should be reserved for Bristol City’s Joe Morrell, who spent last season on loan at Lincoln City. The central midfielder made a handful of impressive appearances for Wales as they qualified for next summer’s European Championships.
