Leagues ask FA to null and void current seasons
FOUR North East non-league clubs could be facing the prospect of a second consecutive being declared null and void.
The Northern Premier League have confirmed that they are one of three leagues that believe that the Football Association should end the current season and wipe all records from the campaign.
The move comes after the NPL held a number of meetings with their Southern League and Isthmian League counterparts in the wake of the latest lockdown imposed on the country.
With increased Covid-19 restrictions in place until mid-February at the earliest, and clubs facing an increasingly hectic fixture list to complete the season, the “Trident Leagues” have postponed all games up to the first Saturday of March.
That means the likes of Dunston UTS, Marske United, Morpeth Town and South Shields will be out of action for the next two months and could see their records for the season declared null and void for a second year in a row.
A league statement released yesterday read: “The board of the
Northern Premier League has, together with our fellow Trident Leagues, reviewed the implications of the latest Government lockdown. The matter was also discussed at length by the FA’s Alliance Committee earlier this week.
“In order to reach a decision that will apply across Steps 3 and 4 in the National League System, and which is informed by the views of all clubs at Steps 3 and 4, clubs will shortly be asked by the Football Association to provide their views on whether the 2020/21 season should be terminated and, if not, what the alternative should be.
“Independent of that survey, all three of the Trident League’s boards hold the view that the season should cease immediately and be declared null and void.
“The ultimate decision lies with The FA Council, following a proposal made by the Alliance Committee but no proposal will be drafted until clubs’ views have been collated and assessed.
“In the meantime, the Northern Premier League is postponing all fixtures up to and including Saturday, March 6 since there is no suggestion that the national lockdown will be lifted prior to this date.
“The League will continue to provide its member clubs with updates as and when it is able to do so.”
All three of the Trident League’s boards hold the view that the season should cease immediately and be declared null and void