The competition was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic after group stage matches on 12 March 2020, and was originally to restart in June 2020. However, the season was eventually cancelled on 1 May 2020.[2] The league was decided on a points-per-game system in August 2020 with Chelsea winning the Division 1 title and Wolverhampton Wanderers being relegated. In Division 2, West Ham United and Manchester United were promoted with no promotion play-offs being played.[3]
The 2019–20 Professional Development League season was the eighth campaign of post-EPPP under-23 football's second tier, designed for those academies with Category Two status. A total of 21 teams were split regionally into north and south divisions, with each team facing opponents in their own region twice both home and away, and opponents in the other region once. The teams that finished in the top two places in both regions at the end of the season were supposed to advance to the knockout stage to determine the overall league champion, but the season was halted in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in England. Leeds United U23s were the defending champions.
21 Teams competed in the league this season, 1 more than last season. Wigan Athletic U23s acquired Category Two status in July 2019 and joined the North Division this season after a six year absence.
Tables
Final league positions were determined by points per game methodology due to season curtailment.