That would be a shame if that happened as I would like to see how they convert the stadium into a football ground. Been several times to watch athletics - including the World Championships on Saturday and cant quite picture how it works as a football ground. Its a great stadium for athletics though
It's live on Sky Sports tomorrow night at the end of the Bury v Sunderland EFL game. That kicks off at 7-45 pm so if there's no extra time it's going to be on around 10pm.
We have tried to work it out at work and we think we will be seeded whatever the result with Sunderland. If there are 7 premier league teams in Europe, these come in at round 3, it would need an additional 15 teams to make up the 2nd round draw, this being the 13 remaining Premier league teams plus Middlesbrough and Hull. Keep with me!! There will be 50 teams in round 2 so therefore 25 seeds, this would be the 15 Premier or ex Premier league teams plus the next best 10 on last years places, that would be to 13th in the Championship. However Preston are out who came 9th so that would extend it down to 14th place, and that was Barnsley!!! So we should be seeded whatever. Another complication could be are Derby seeded or not? as they don't play until the 2nd round date. All things being equal we think we will be seeded.
The seeded: Southampton, AFC Bournemouth, West Bromwich Albion, West Ham United, Leicester City, Stoke City, Crystal Palace, Swansea City, Burnley, Watford, Hull City, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Brighton, Reading, Sheffield Wednesday, Huddersfield Town, Fulham, Norwich City, Brentford, Cardiff City, Aston Villa, Leeds United, Sunderland (if they beat Bury), Derby County/Grimsby Town The unseeded: QPR, Birmingham, Burton Albion, Nottingham Forest, Blackburn Rovers, Wigan Athletic, Rotherham United, Accrington Stanley, Doncaster Rovers, Bristol Rovers, Charlton Athletic, Carlisle United, Rochdale, Millwall, Cheltenham Town, Barnet, Scunthorpe United, Newport County, Milton Keynes Dons, Bolton Wanderers, Sheffield United. Still to be decided: Barnsley (if one of Aston Villa, Leeds or Sunderland lose) Wolverhampton Wanderers (if two of Aston Villa, Leeds or Sunderland lose, one if the EFL make Derby/Grimsby unseeded) Ipswich Town (if Aston Villa, Leeds and Sunderland all lose, two if the EFL make Derby/Grimsby unseeded) Bristol City (if the EFL decide to make Derby/Grimsby unseeded AND Aston Villa, Leeds and Sunderland all lose)
If Sunderland lose then it's certain. If they win it depends on whatever they decide for Derby. I think.