The English Football League will be forced to pay broadcasters at least £50 million if the season is abandoned in the three divisions.

League One and League Two clubs are split on whether to complete or cancel the current season and potentially crucial conference calls will be held over the next 48 hours to discuss the way forward.

The EFL will assess the views of all clubs before holding their own weekly board meeting on Wednesday, but there is now a growing fear that football in the lower two divisions could be scrapped for the season due to the coronavirus crisis.

Championship clubs are keen to finish the season, following the lead of the Premier League, yet in England's third and fourth tiers the situation is becoming increasingly perilous.

Clubs are facing huge financial problems without gate revenue and income, with many furloughing staff and discussing big pay deferrals with their players.

If the “nuclear option”, as it has been described by senior sources, is activated and the season across all three divisions is abandoned, it is understood the EFL will be liable for a minimum £50 million rebate owed to television broadcasters.

The figure is significantly lower than the £371 million in TV money that will be owed to Sky Sports if the Premier League season is curtailed, but still a huge amount for the EFL to pay up. There is hope within EFL circles that Sky would show some goodwill if the season was aborted and the issue of rebates became pressing.

Games such as the play-off finals are particularly valuable to television companies and the money owed will only increase if next season is also impacted by the pandemic.

Tuesday’s conference call could prove pivotal to the outcome of the 2019/20 season, with many League One owners in conflict over their views on how to reach a resolution that suits all.

Peterborough United chairman Darragh Macanthony has launched a withering assessment on the “agenda merchants” who he believes are using the coronavirus pandemic to end the season. Peterborough were sixth in League One before the season was suspended.

Andy Holt, the Accrington Stanley chairman, whose team are 17th in the same division, has insisted it makes no financial sense to conclude the campaign.

Burton Albion were 12th in League One when the season was suspended - 11 points adrift of the play-off places and 16 clear of the relegation zone - but chairman Ben Robinson insists the season must be finished.

He told Telegraph Sport: “We have nine games left and our view is that the season must be concluded for the integrity of the competition.

“That would give any clubs in contention for promotion or relegation the opportunity to decide their season fairly.

“If those games are behind closed doors, then so be it, and we don’t want to prejudice any commercial situations.

“The option of streaming games to season ticket holders is also a good one and could also give sponsors the exposure they might not have had before.”

Lower-league clubs will continue talks with their players this week over potential wage deferrals, with the April payroll looming later this month.

Last week it was proposed that higher paid players who earn more than £2,500 a week should take a 25% deferral as clubs desperately move to buy themselves time amid the financial crisis.