The Football Association has confirmed that results in Step 3 and below of the English non-league system will be expunged due to the Coronavirus pandemic. This means that the season has been declared null and void.
English Non-League Season Will Be Null and Void
Step 3 and Below
As a result of this decision, there will be no promotion and relegation between leagues. For those threatened by relegation, this is likely to be a sigh of relief for them. However, across the country, may teams were vying for promotion.
Given how much can change in just a short space of time in non-league, this may have been the one and only chance for some teams to move up a division. Players who were once willing to stay as long as they got to the higher division will more than likely move on, making that particular team not the force they have been in this campaign.
The National League
This process, though, has not yet been applied to the National League (Step 1) and it’s two feeder divisions, National League North and National League South (Step 2).
There will be no promotion from Step 3 into Step 2, but other factors are yet to be decided.
One of the key issues is the situation of promotion between Step 1 and the Football League. Barrow are currently top of the National Leauge and were on course to return to the EFL for the first time in 50 years.
Expunging results will lead to heartbreak for the teams in Step 1 that were so close to getting out of non-league. Harrogate, who took part in the play-offs last season, are currently second and Notts County, relegated from League Two last year, are third.
Yeovil Town, who came down with County, are also looking good for a play-off spot alongside Boreham Wood, FC Halifax Town and Stockport County.
Football Association Competitions
Due to the FA’s competitions being at such an advanced stage, they are reviewing whether it will be possible to play them to a finish. These include the FA Cup, the Women’s FA Cup, the FA Trophy and the FA Vase.
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