Sporting Life
Vanarama National League ball
Vanarama National League ball

National League clubs vote to end regular season with immediate effect

By Sporting Life
Football
Wed April 22, 2020 · 5y ago

Clubs in the National League's three tiers have voted to end the regular season immediately but promotion and relegation is yet to be decided.

Those matters are being given "careful consideration", according to the league's board.

Clubs in the National League, National North and National South had been urged to vote in favour of an immediate end to the campaign by the league's board because of the coronavirus.

And it claims there was a "clear majority" from the almost 90% of responses received.

"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," said National League chief executive Michael Tattersall.

Salford City won last season's National League play-off final at Wembley

Ordinarily, two clubs are promoted from the National League into League Two each season - one automatically and one through the end-of-season play-offs.

Four teams are relegated, with two sides coming up from each of the National North and National South.

Barrow are the current leaders of the National League, four points clear of Harrogate Town with nine games to play.

Ebbsfleet United, Maidenhead United, AFC Fylde and Chorley occupy the relegation places.

"In consideration of the very serious and unprecedented national public health emergency caused by the coronavirus, National League, National League North and National League South football activities have been suspended since 16 March," read a National League statement.

"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."

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