Lower-league representatives across the country are set to hold a remote meeting with the England FA on Tuesday to discuss the fate of 2019/20, following a call for all clubs in National League Steps 5 and 6 to indicate their preference.
Among the choices put to Combined Counties League clubs over the weekend was a continuation of the campaign after the coronavirus crisis, although there is a threat that Jersey’s struggling rivals could instead opt for the season to be declared null and void. Freezing the season and using current standings, or deciding the final league table on ‘points per game’, are other possibilities.
Champions-elect Bulls had already secured promotion to the ninth tier of English football before the pandemic brought an end to sporting activity – winning all 27 of their games in CCL Division I.
‘We are looking at option four – complete the season on a points-per-game average,’ said Bulls chairman Russell Le Feuvre.
‘We’re conscious that health comes first and we’ve got to do what’s right by our players. With the travel restrictions it might well be that we can’t actually get across to the UK to play our games, so if it was on points per game we could forfeit our remaining games and let the other sides finish the season off if they’re able to.
‘Teams will vote for what’s in their interest, which is understandable, but obviously we’re in a position where we’re already promoted so we would be disappointed if we were playing Step 6 [tenth tier] football again next season.
‘But right now football and sport in general is not important. It’s far lower on the priority list than people’s health.’
At the top of the league ladder, Premier League clubs and officials are pushing for their season to be concluded in the summer – deemed a distinct possibility by many following the postponement of Euro 2020 by 12 months.
