Promotion waiting game continues for Harrogate, Halifax and York

THE LIMBO continued last night for York City, Halifax Town and Harrogate Town with a decision on how to resolve National League promotion and relegation put on hold once more.

It could be that all three now have to go through play-offs, opening up the prospect of a promotion York feared they might be denied. Their regular season was abandoned on April 22, and with the Football League having finally decided how its campaigns would be resolved, clubs in the National League, which encompasses the Conference Premier, North and South, were due to vote on a proposal yesterday.

With the Government reluctant to sanction Conference

North and South play-offs because it does not class them as “elite level”, the authorities recommended that only the top team in each after a pointsper-game formula was used be promoted.

York were top of Conference North when the season was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic, but would be second on the pointsper-game formula used by Leagues One and Two and favoured by the National League.

The Minstermen argued if play-offs were not possible, the league should still respect the plan to promote two teams from the regional divisions, and relegate four from the fifth tier.

But there was reportedly a strong feeling in yesterday’s meeting that the National League should push for play-offs from all its divisions.

A new proposal is set to be put to clubs today, and is expected to be voted on later this week.

Conference Premier sides have a vote each, while the North and South divisions have four each, and the decision must be ratified by the FA Council.

Those League One and Two clubs involved in play-offs have had to have their players regularly tested for coronavirus ahead of and during their return to training. Unlike in the Premier League, Football League clubs foot the bill.

Being involved in the play-offs will therefore not be without its costs for York, who furloughed all paid employees.

Play-offs are more convoluted than in the Football League, with the teams finishing fourth to seventh competing for the right to play away semi-finals against the second- and third-placed teams.

The delay means Harrogate, second in the Conference Premier, and sixth-placed Halifax are still waiting to find out if they will be required to play-off for promotion to League Two.