FURIOUS Barrow boss Ian Evatt blasted the National League for urging the FA to make the season NULL AND VOID.
Tiers nine and ten of the English game were called off on Wednesday and non-league bosses at tier five on Wwednesday sparked bitter divisions by conceding the season cannot resume.
⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
Ian Evatt is upset at the idea of nulling and voiding the National League season as his side are nine points clearCredit: PA:Empics Sport
Dagenham & Redbridge director Steve Thompson insists most clubs want certainty now, to help them safeguard their futureCredit: PA:Empics Sport
And Evatt, whose side are nine points clear at the top of the National League and closing in a return to the EFL after a 48-year wait, slammed the idea.
Ex-Derby, QPR and Blackpool defender Evatt fumed: “I don’t see how you can, in the interest of fairness, void the season when some teams in our league have only got seven games to play.
“If this was halfway through the season or under, you can completely understand voiding a season.
“But we’re talking about, from some clubs’ perspective, seven games. Seven games away from completing the season. You cannot, you cannot, null and void it.”
National League chiefs have asked the FA to make a final ruling on how to bring the campaign to a close and have urged Wembley bosses to decide in days where there will be any promotion and relegation in the lower division pyramid.
The decision could have seismic ramifications for the EFL and the Premier League higher up the chain.
The broad consensus was clubs wish a decision to close the season as soon as possible. The FA have been asked to assist us.
National League chief exec Michael Tattersall
National League bosses want to know whether they should declare the season null and void – meaning the last seven months have been pointless – or extrapolate the current tables to declare winners and losers.
Any decision would immediately impact on the EFL, set to lose one team this summer with two coming up to help fill the void left by Bury’s demise.
And the knock-on effects could see further calls for the entire professional season to be wiped off the record books to allow a reboot from scratch for 2020-21. potentially denying Liverpool the title.
As well as having an effect on Barrow, huge numbers of National League contracts run out next month and clubs facing uncertain financial futures are demanding imminent “clarity” and leadership from the FA.
That led to the board meeting which saw League chief executive Michael Tattersall write an email to all the clubs explaining: “The broad consensus was that our clubs wish for a decision to be made to close the season as soon as possible.
“The FA have been asked to assist us with making the decisions to officially postpone all remaining National League fixtures and to end the season as soon as possible for the purposes of player contracts.”
He added: “The National League is also working with the FA to define all reasonable and practical options for the determination of the 2019/20 season, and to provide guidance to Clubs on dealing with player contracts, player registrations and the application of the coronavirus job retention scheme.
“We will continue to press for updates and will ensure that any further information is relayed to Clubs as soon as it is received.
“The League is very aware that Clubs are looking for answers and greater certainty, and we remain focused on delivering these in the most timely manner possible.”
Another issue is that second-placed Harrogate, who would stand to be promoted, cannot go into League Two as they play on a 3G pitch at their Wetherby Road home.
Prem clubs remain determined to play the season to a finish if possible which is also the majority view among EFL outfits.
But below League Two, finances are far more tight with serious doubts about the long-term viability of clubs who cannot play behind closed doors and survive.
And despite Barrow’s anger, League chiefs are coming under huge pressure from other cash-strapped clubs to call things off for good now – ramping up the heat on the FA to step in.
Dagenham & Redbridge director Steve Thompson said: “The majority of clubs wanted certainty. What this measure does is help clubs preserve and consolidate their own clubs.
“Clubs wanted the season to end so they can start looking at how they can make certain they are more resilient for the new season when it starts, that they can continue paying wages where required and ensure they get through this in one piece.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
