Hartlepool United boss Dave Challinor hoping for a 'special' end to the National League campaign

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.

Clubs face an anxious wait but Challinor is experienced enough to know the outcome of the vote is out of the club’s hands and all the Pools players can do is keep winning – and keep the pressure on the sides above them.

He told the Mail: “It doesn’t impact us really, it may impact the players a little bit more but the way we have to look at it, we speak a lot about controlling variables within our power and it’s out of our power so we can’t do anything about it.

"Best case scenario is that we get the opportunity to carry on and we’re in a good place to do that.

"Next be scenario is that we get another month down the line and things get kiboshed but we might go points-per-game and be in a good place.

"Worst case scenario is that we don’t get the chance to carry on but we get some sympathy for being right near the top of the table, that’s the best way we can look at it.

"We want to keep our momentum and feel good factor moving in the right direction.

"Whatever will be will be but hopefully it will be the first option and we get the chance to make this a special season for everyone.”

Challinor, speaking ahead of the trip to Eastleigh on Tuesday evening, is pleased with the form of his Pools side.

Pressed on whether there is anything they can be doing better, Challinor said: “There’s nothing at the moment that stands out to me that we need to improve on as a team.

"I think one thing there has been question marks over is our ability to find ways to win games and winning games in different ways if they’re tight or cagey.

"Winning ugly and grinding out results is something we’ve done really well in recent weeks and we’ve got to make sure we carry on doing that now against teams that aren’t in and around us in the table.

"People will look at us as a team at the top playing a team near the bottom and think it’s an easy one for us but that’s never the case.

"We’ve just got to replicate what we’ve been doing and if it’s an open game and both teams are looking to play then brilliant.”

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.

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