Non League clubs sign open letter to FA claiming 'no valid basis' to expunge season

The FA announced last week that the season would be made null and void for clubs in step three to six of non league, and steps three to seven of the women's game, despite some sides already securing promotion.

The decision has been met with anger by several clubs, with over 60 signing the open letter to the FA.

A raft of Yorkshire clubs have provided their support with officials from Liversedge FC, Ilkley Town AFC, Otley Town AFC, Barnsley Women FC, Dinnington Town FC, Campion AFC, Shelley Community FC and Selby Town putting their signatures to the document.

The letter expresses concerns about the haste in which the decision to expunge the season was reached, considering that approximately 75 per cent of the campaign has been completed by the majority of teams.

"Our concern is grounded primarily in the needless and inexplicable haste exercised in reaching the decision, coupled with a total lack of substantive dialogue or consultation with affected clubs," it read.

"The decision also disregards the millions of pounds invested and countless hours expended collectively by clubs, and so has critical financial implications."

The letter continued: "We believe it is unacceptable that such a decision has been handed down to us in this manner. We urgently seek constructive dialogue with the FA with the aim to have the decision re-considered."

All clubs have backed the decision to suspend the season, highlighting how football comes secondary to the current public health situation.

However, there is a feeling amongst a number of non-league clubs that the decision was reached without their input.

There is also the frustration that the top two tiers of the non-league pyramid are being treated differently.

The National League and the National League North and South have yet to decide how their season should end, with reports emerging last week that the season would be concluded.

All the Yorkshire clubs who have signed the letter, which was penned yesterday, were challenging for promotion in their respective divisions before the season was declared null and void.

The letter continued: "Most clubs in steps three to six have now completed 70-80 per cent of their league fixtures, and it is incomprehensible that these results should be delegitimised and expunged on the basis that the final quarter of the season cannot be fulfilled in the future.

"Simply put, there is no valid basis to expunge an entire season, especially at this stage."

The letter calls for the FA to reverse their decision and wait to see how the coronavirus pandemic unfolds before resolving how the season should end.

The teams have called for the season to be ended by a points-per-game ratio as it "bears reflection of the hard work that clubs across the country" have already put in this season.

"The consensus that we have reached is to take a similar stance to what the Premier League aims to do – wait several weeks to see how the public health situation unfolds before deciding next steps," it continued.

"This is sensible in circumstances where it is by no means certain that we will even be able to start next season in a timely fashion.

"Among the options for serious consideration should be deciding final positions on a Points Per Game (PPG) basis, which unlike expunging the season, is rooted in the results of fair and meritocratic competition, and bears reflection of the hard work that clubs across the country have poured in this season."

The letter concluded: "We urge the FA to reconsider its decision and to slow down the whole process, offering proper consultation with afflicted leagues and clubs as the picture becomes clearer, before deciding a way forward."