Shock claims it could be January before National League football returns

And a national journalist has now claimed it could be January before the top three tiers of non-league return to action.

Oliver Holt, chief sports writer at the Mail on Sunday, tweeted: “Re:National League. Told that once this season’s issues decided, top 3 divisions of non-league won’t be back until January.”

Holt stressed nothing had been confirmed and that it was just current thinking among some clubs having spoken to a club executive in the National League.

Hartlepool United and other National League clubs saw their fixtures cancelled from March 16 onwards, but now face several more months without football as uncertainty reigns.

A further vote is to be held as to how to determine the outcome of the top three divisions, with options such as deciding on a points per game basis put forward.