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Carlisle chief calls for discussions over season extension

United have had plenty of postponements this season.

Extending the season to cope with a fixture backlog cannot be ruled out, according to Carlisle director of external affairs John Nixon.

Carlisle are among the clubs to have been badly affected by postponements, with Saturday's game against Crawley one of many in Sky Bet League Two falling victim to freezing conditions this weekend.

And although Nixon stressed that extending the season is not currently under discussion, the EFL board member said no options would be off-limits.

"It's definitely a topic that's there to be discussed," Nixon said in an interview on Carlisle's official website.

"In terms of getting our season completed as a league, absolutely no topic is a non-starter when it comes to helping us all to facilitate that.

"At Carlisle United we were ready to kick off at 2.30pm the other day for a Tuesday game, so that shows that there's flexibility and that people are willing to listen if sensible and common-sense solutions are put forward.

"Everyone hopes the vaccines will lead to the virus situation easing, but if clubs do have fixture backlogs to contend with then talks about an extension are definitely not going to be taken off the table.

"Look, being honest, and for a lot of good reasons, extending the season isn't desirable, but when you see clubs who have small squads, as we have at Carlisle, it will bring pressure if they have to play Saturday-Tuesday and then have to squeeze other games in on top of that as well.

"A lot of clubs have full weeks between now and May at the moment, and they'll all face similar pressures, so the EFL will monitor how things are going very closely."

Nixon also highlighted that clubs are currently not receiving expenses to cover travelling costs when games are postponed.

"In our own case we've been to Harrogate twice, and halfway to Newport, and we haven't kicked a ball at any of them," he added.

"That incurs significant costs, which is frustrating when there is no end product. Other clubs are in the same boat, so it's something we will be looking at.

"To be clear, nobody is actually talking about a season extension as things stand, but we do know that different clubs are facing different issues and we need to be constantly aware of that."

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Wycombe Wanderers's Darly Horgan shoots during the Championship clash with Stoke City on December 2, 2020
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ChinaChina38321888
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Today's Olympic highlights header

Sunday's key events


ATHLETICS
· With the track and field action now finished, the final athletics event of the Games is the men's marathon, which includes three British representatives and world record holder Eliud Kipchoge (11pm)

CYCLING
· Laura Kenny goes for a sixth Olympic gold medal, and a second of the Tokyo Games, in the women's omnium (2am-4.25am)
· Jason Kenny also has another shot at gold on the final day of action, taking part in the men's keirin alongside compatriot Jack Carlin (2.24am-4am)

BASKETBALL
· After the men once again picked up Olympic gold, the USA women will attempt to replicate their success in the gold medal match against hosts Japan (3.30am)

VOLLEYBALL
· USA also have a chance for gold in the women's volleyball final against Brazil (5.30am)

BOXING
· Lauren Price bids to bring a successful Games to a golden close for Britain in the ring as she takes on Li Qian in the women's middleweight final (6.45am)

HANDBALL
· The women's gold medal match sees the Russian Olympic Committee take on France (7am)

WATER POLO
· The final gold medal of the Games is likely to be handed out in water polo, when Greece face Serbia in the men's gold medal match (8.30am)

CLOSING CEREMONY
· A unique and memorable Olympic Games officially comes to a close (12pm)

> Today's schedule in full
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Brasileiro
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