Stevenage are set to be relegated from League Two to the National League after Macclesfield Town were only deducted two points at their latest hearing. The Silkmen have additionally been fined £20,000 for failing to pay players’ wages. It’s the third deduction that Macclesfield have been handed this season, meaning they finish just one point above Alex Revell’s Stevenage.
Stevenage Set to Be Relegated From League Two
Boro Still Bottom
Despite this being the third time this season Macclesfield have had points deducted, Stevenage still sit bottom of the league. They have won just three times this campaign and only collected 13 draws, leaving them with a total of 22 points.
Macclesfield’s original points total of 36 based on their results would also have seen them finish above Morecambe, and only two points shy of 21st-placed Mansfield Town.
Macclesfield’s Charge
As well as the two-point deduction and £20,000 fine, Macclesfield have also been hit with a four-point penalty which is suspended ahead of the 2020/21 season, which will be activated in the event of the club being found to have not paid players on time during the next campaign.
Any Hope for Stevenage?
The remaining small glimmer of hope for Stevenage is whether the National League goes ahead next season. EFL rules dictate that any team relegated out of their governed leagues must have matches to fulfil in their next season.
There have been murmurings of England’s fifth tier not going ahead next season due to the financial implications of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, with their play-offs for this season set to go ahead behind closed doors, and with clubs in desperate need of any sort of matchday income, it seems unlikely that Stevenage will get a reprieve.
Due to this, relegation has not been officially confirmed, but it looks increasingly likely that Stevenage will be playing non-league football next season for the first time since 2009/10.
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