Nottingham Forest will be denied the chance to win promotion to the Premier League this season if the EFL chooses to follow the precedent set by the Rugby Football Union.
The RFU, rugby union's governing body in England, today (Thursday) confirmed the end of the 2019-20 campaign for all leagues below the top flight due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Promotion and relegation will still take place across the divisions using what it calls a “best playing record formula".
In the Greene King IPA Championship, it means leaders Newcastle Falcons will be promoted to the Premiership.
The formula used is reported to apply each club's average points total at home and away to their remaining fixtures and decide the final league table that way.
If the same ruling and formula was used in football's Sky Bet Championship, the current top two - Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion - would remain in those automatic promotion positions on 89 and 87 points respectively.
Third-placed Fulham would be in position to take the third promotion slot (79 points) - in the event of no play-offs being played.
Forest are currently fifth in the table with 60 points, just behind Brentford on goal difference.
Using the formula, the Reds would finish on 75 points (rounded up from 74.5) - thus missing out on promotion.
Of course, it should be pointed out that the EFL has vowed to finish the season when it is safe to do so. However, it is not clear when that will be.
Football is currently suspended until at least the end of April, though that date could be extended.
