Dave Challinor has this message for the National League as Hartlepool United and rival clubs wait for clarity

Clubs in the fifth tier are awaiting the outcome of a vote to determine whether the 2020-21 campaign will continue amid funding concerns with fans not currently allowed inside stadiums during the Covid-19 pandemic.

National League clubs have until the end of the month to submit their votes for the 2020-21 National League resolution – and some have already made their feelings known.

All 66 of the National League’s member clubs were handed their resolution voting papers earlier in the week. They have 28 days to respond to the four resolutions set out by the National League.

Hartlepool United boss Dave Challinor says he has sympathy with the National League for the tough decisions they are having to make but insists the communication and leadership from league bosses could and should have been stronger.

Pools are in the promotion race and want the season to continue.

Challinor, speaking ahead of the Eastleigh trip on Tuesday evening, told the Mail: “Without wanting to sit on the fence, I feel a bit of both and of course I have sympathy because somebody somewhere has to make a decision that impacts 66 clubs and you can’t please everybody.

"The worst case scenario is that the person making that decision doesn’t want to make a decision that could have serious repercussions for a lot of football clubs and communities.

"I completely get that these are massively difficult decisions to make.

"Where the National League haven’t done themselves any favours is just through the communication and leadership aspect of it and making decisions that show authority.

"It’s been really messy and that’s allowed people to give their opinions and you’ve got football clubs with players, managers, chairman who are all giving their opinions publicly which go everywhere within a second.

"That snowballs the problem and ranks the pressure up on the National League. The overall situation is best described as a bit of a mess and hopefully we get some clarity very soon.”

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