National League clubs 'split' over vote to end the season with players in limbo

Clubs have been asked by the National League board to vote on whether to end the season or to push ahead when safe for football to resume.

Currently all football has been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic with no date set for when it will return.

Clubs and players, training alone at home, are currently in limbo as to what will happen though Pools chief executive Mark Maguire has previously told the Mail that it is essential for the National League to resume, it is just a question of when.

The BBC’s Ian Dennis tweeted that clubs in the fifth tier are split over how to end the season, with 10 wanting it to end immediately, four pushing for it to continue and the rest either undecided or not yet willing to confirm one way or the other when he spoke to them.

Barrow currently sit four points clear at the top of the National League but could still be denied a return to the Football League for the first time since 1972.

Speaking last month, Maguire told the Mail: “This season has to finish at some stage, whenever that may be.

“If that means it’s at the start of when next season would be, then so be it. It’s £100 million between the Championship and the Premier League, It’s £1 million between the National League and League Two.

“If you’re Barrow for example and you’re on the point of earning £1 million, are you going to allow the season to be cancelled when you’re in the position you are?

“Similarly if you’re Bristol City on the outskirts of the play-offs in the Championship, do you allow it to be cancelled with a chance of getting in there?

“There’s been a lot of pressure on the National League to be cancelling things, there were 15 clubs putting loads of pressure on them to keep playing on through this because of cash flow.

“It’s difficult but money will talk and they’ll need to finish the season at some stage.”

Further up the pyramid, the EFL and Premier League remain in discussions over how they intend to finish the campaign when safe to do, with both currently intending to carry on though it will be behind-closed-doors.

The season has been suspended indefinitely due to the coronavirus outbreak and no games have been played since March 14 in the fifth tier.

The National League board has come up with a proposal - which they are recommending all clubs in the top three divisions (National League, National League North and National League South) approve.

That proposal is to cancel all fixtures up to and including April 25.

It is hoped a decision will be reached before the end of the month but there is a deadline of May 7 for all votes to be cast.

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