NPL back calls to terminate season
RA MS BOTTOM United’s push for the NPL Division One NW title looks set to be declared null and void for the second campaign running with Northern Premier League bosses calling for an end to the fixtures programme.
With the country in the grip of a third national Covid-19 lockdown, league bosses have backed calls for the 202021 season to be terminated. The NPL and its two counterpart competitions at Steps 3-4, the Isthmian League and the Southern League, issued a joint statement as the collective Trident League, providing an update on the 2020-21 season after England was placed into a national lockdown.
And the three leagues are ready to declare the campaign null and void, as happened in 2019-20.
Clubs in the three leagues are now being asked for their views ahead of a decision by the Football Association.
The NPL, as part of the Trident League, issued the following statement: “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 3-4 in the National League System, and which is informed by the views of all clubs at Steps 3-4, 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.”