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Football London
Football London
Sport
Josh Challies

National League vote to void 2019/20 season following coronavirus outbreak

The National League has voted to immediately end the season due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The league held a board meeting yesterday and decided to vote in favour of declaring the season null and void with immediate effect, The Daily Star reports.

Bosses are now in crunch talks with the FA in a bid to get them to ratify the decision, as well as confirming the current places to decide who is promoted and who is relegated.

If the FA agree, then the National League would become the highest level of football to be declared null and void in the UK - following an announcement on Tuesday that steps 5 and 6 of football are over.

Current leaders Barrow, along with second placed Harrogate Town, would be promoted to League Two, while Fylde and Chorley would be relegated to the National League North.

However, the situation could change further as League Two would have 26 teams next season if the Football League campaign fails to be completed and if nobody is promoted or relegated.

All professional football has been suspended until April 30 at the earliest, with members of the Premier League and EFL voting last week to try and finish the current campaign - no matter how long it takes.

But those in the National League want to do the opposite - despite the unprecedented move being set to cost hundreds of people their jobs and send clubs in financial meltdown.

Last week, National League chief executive Michael Tattersall met with the FA to request a £17m support package, with all 24 clubs asked to provide their projected losses due to the coronavirus outbreak.

However, it is understood no plan could be agreed, leaving clubs will little choice but to vote to end the season immediately.

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