Season expunged- Chairman explains the reasons behind the decision

On Friday 20th March, the Northern Premier, Southern and Isthmian Leagues were each asked to provide a view on whether the season should be terminated and, if so, on what basis. We were required to provide that view by first thing on Monday 23rd March; on the Saturday the Isthmian Board of directors held a video conference and discussed the matter at length. The overwhelming majority view was that the season be terminated and treated as “null and void,” and I attended a video conference of the Alliance Leagues on the Monday with that mandate.

Following extensive discussions the NPL and the SFL boards agreed to support “null & void” whilst the National League wished to align itself with the professional game and did not accept the option preferred by Steps 3 and 4.

On Tuesday 24 March the League representatives attended another video conference, this time with the Leagues Committee Chair and Vice Chair; that League had been evenly split on a vote between “null and void” and Points Per Match but the Committee had decided to support the null and void option. It was the decision of this joint meeting which led to the announcement by The FA on Thursday 26 March.

Key factors

The Alliance Committee and Leagues Committee considered an indefinite extension to the season for Steps 3 to 7 but concluded this was not the best option for the following reasons:

• Lack of certainty as to when it will be safe to resume football. If it cannot be resumed for a significant period of time, this may: (a) impact upon the start date and scheduling of the 2020/21 season (b) create uncertainty regarding playing contracts and therefore club squads; and (c) not provide players a sufficient period of rest between seasons.

• In the Isthmian League, 24% of matches were left to play. On the basis that a Club was able to play between 1.5 and 2 matches per week, this would require a time period of between 8 and 11 weeks in order to play out those fixtures. This is before consideration is given to the period of time required for players to become match-fit and the period of time required for the play-off matches to take place prior to the commencement of the 2020/21 season.

• Most player contracts last until the first Saturday in May, or the last competitive match of the season. By extending, or ‘pausing’ the season, clubs would be required to pay those players without any matchday income, possibly for months on end. For the season to be extended indefinitely would likely create considerable uncertainty as to the status of those players beyond that date.

• It may not be possible, practically or logistically, for Clubs to be able to resume the playing season. For example, primacy of tenure at a Club's ground could preclude that number of matches being played per week and a Club's ability to use its current venue may be impacted by the current crisis.

Points Per Match vs Null & Void

Serious consideration was given by the Alliance and Leagues Committees to whether a mechanism (Points Per Match or variations thereof) should be used to calculate final league tables and preserve promotion and relegation.

This was not felt to be the best option because of the significant number of clubs and leagues making up Steps 3 to 7 and the potential variables that might influence the outcome of the season. Whilst some clubs were well ahead in their league, the relegation picture was far from clear.

I fully recognise that the ‘null & void’ option has left with some clubs feeling a sense of injustice. The reality, however, is that many more clubs may have felt the same had the Points Per Match option been preferred.