National League clubs vote to END season as talks continue over promotion and relegation

NATIONAL LEAGUE clubs have voted to end the season now – but talks continue over how to resolve promotion and relegation.

The league said there was a “clear majority of clubs in favour” from the returned votes across their three divisions, with around 90 per cent of clubs having their say.

⚠️ Read our coronavirus in sport live blog for the latest news & updates

National League sides voted in favour of cancelling the remaining matches but promotion and relegation details are unconfirmedCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Voting remains open to those sides yet to respond but the decision – which was suggested by the National League earlier in April – will not be reversed.

A statement read: “In the knowledge that the ordinary resolution has passed, the league’s board has chosen to communicate the decision now and before the last few responses are received, which will not change the outcome, to enable clubs to make business decisions with greater clarity as soon as possible.

“The options concerning the sporting outcomes of the 2019/20 season remain under careful and timely consideration, and further updates will be given in due course.”

National League chief executive Michael Tattersall added: “At a time when the entire country is wrestling with the devastating impact of Covid-19, the cancellation of the remaining normal season matches brings a degree of certainty to our clubs coping with the business implications of the virus.”

The National League – whose divisions cover the fifth and sixth tiers of English football – came under criticism when another round of fixtures went ahead on the weekend on March 14/15 despite the Premier League and EFL suspending matches.

Usually, two teams are promoted from the National League – the champions and play-off winners – into League Two while four teams are relegated and replaced by the corresponding teams in National League North and South.

Give now to The Sun’s NHS appeal

BRITAIN’s four million NHS staff are on the frontline in the battle against coronavirus.

But while they are helping save lives, who is there to help them?

The Sun has launched an appeal to raise £1MILLION for NHS workers.

The Who Cares Wins Appeal aims to get vital support to staff in their hour of need.

We have teamed up with NHS Charities Together in their urgent Covid-19 Appeal to ensure the money gets to exactly who needs it.

The Sun is donating £50,000 and we would like YOU to help us raise a million pounds, to help THEM.

No matter how little you can spare, please donate today here

www.thesun.co.uk/whocareswinsappeal

The organisation are still unsure how the promotion and relegation will be finalised – they have said they will present options on how to finish the season but what those options will be remains unclear.

Barrow were four points clear of Harrogate Town at the top of the National League with nine games to go before the decision was made to terminate the season.

But despite being on the brink of a return to the Football League for the first time since 1972 and the anger from manager Ian Evatt, director Levi Gill reckons the right decision has been made.

However, he is understandably desperate a resolution can be found which would see his side rewarded for their fine season.

He told the BBC: “Taken in isolation, it is the right call.

“Obviously we are very strongly against voiding the season.

“But apart from that, it is impossible to know what to do without seeing the choices. It could be complete the table by points-per-game average, give final positions out on current standings or play-offs.

“I would prefer a straight ‘yes or no’ option but I don’t know if that is what we will get.”

In March, the FA decided to declare the season for clubs in the seventh tier and below null and void.

All results have been expunged and there will be no promotion or relegation from those divisions.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk