Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony has criticised the English Football League (EFL)'s handling of the crucial vote on Tuesday which saw the League One and League Two seasons curtailed.

MacAnthony has been outspoken on the process which saw Peterborough narrowly miss out on a place in the League One play-offs, hitting out at football clubs for voting against playing football.

Under the rules backed yesterday, Oxford United will progress straight into a play-off against Portsmouth, with Wycombe Wanderers and Fleetwood Town contesting the other semi-final.

But the Posh owner has suggested his club had been misled as the EFL had indicated for several weeks that the season would be completed, leading them to opt against furloughing players.

"Every letter from the EFL stated that we wanted to finish the season and we went along with that," MacAnthony said on Sky Sports' 'The Football Show'.

Also read: Turning points which saw Oxford United finish in play-offs

"I spoke to Rick Parry, the chairman, in May and I said to him, 'what are we doing? Things seem to be improving' and he said, 'we want to finish the season, there's no reason not to finish the season' so again we went along with that.

"We voted for football. We will always vote for football.

"I understand the health concerns but we've now been told football is back - the Premier League is back, the Championship is back. The EFL is 71 clubs and we've been told we can't play football so it's devastation and disappointment."

MacAnthony also said he was disappointed the EFL had not done more to balance out Tuesday's bad news by presenting plans to start next season, or to provide financial relief as clubs struggle with the loss of revenue.

"So many things could have been done in the last four or five weeks that weren't done," he said.

"That's why I'm disappointed with the EFL. It would have been lovely to find out what are we looking at starting date-wise."

In a statement after the vote, Parry said: "Whilst it has always remained the board’s position to play the remainder of the season where possible, the decision reached at today’s meeting follows a full and considered consultation period with our member Clubs.

"The board has endeavoured to listen to all views and alternative approaches but understands that the decisions taken will not be met with universal satisfaction from all Clubs.

“Today’s outcome ensures that the league and its clubs remains as faithful as possible to the previously agreed regulations and that there is consistency in the approach adopted across the EFL in all divisions if required."