SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Vanarama National League clubs have voted by a ‘clear majority’ to cancel all remaining fixtures for its three non-league divisions.
In total 90 per cent of all National League clubs, across its three leagues, responded to the organisation’s proposal to end the playing season for all fixtures scheduled up to and including 25 April 2020. As a result, the National League, National League North and National League South will be concluded effectively immediately.
National League Chief Executive Officer, Michael Tattersall, commented: “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.”
Clubs that have yet to vote on the decision will still be given the option to voice opinions with the organisation wanting to ‘include as many preferences as possible before the final voting result is declared’.
Nevertheless, given the apparent substantial number of clubs which have opted to end the current season, the final decision seems like a formality to show how many teams voted either way.
Information regarding promotion and relegation has yet to be announced with a variety of measures still being discussed according to the organisation.
The league will possibly use protocols already been implemented by other organisations, looking at how other leagues have handled a campaign conclusion. In Scotland the SPFL declared that the season would end effectively immediately in its second, third and fourth division. The current, and final, standings have then been used resulting in Dundee gaining promotion and Partick Thistle suffering relegation.
Whereas, the Football Association (FA) revealed that steps six and below of the football pyramid would be ‘null and void’.
The National League divisions have been suspended since March 16 after the spread of the coronavirus in the UK led to all sporting activities being indefinitely postponed or cancelled.
