AFC Fylde and all National League clubs to vote on scrapping and voiding the season

If the clubs vote not to continue, it will be the second successive season these competitions have stopped partway through.

The terms of the voting were laid out to clubs last night, stating that a vote to end the season with immediate effect would see it declared null and void, with no promotion or relegation, subject to FA approval.

Although clubs have 28 days to vote, it is expected that a decision will be made quickly, with matches currently continuing in the National League (step one) and due to resume in National League North and South (step two) this weekend after a two-week suspension.

Fylde are training as normal this week in the hope of returning to action on Saturday at home to Guiseley.

The vote will also determine exactly how the decision is to be taken. It is proposed that the step one clubs vote only on their own competition, while the step two clubs vote only on theirs.

Should this be approved, then the vote at Fylde's level would be conducted on a one club, one vote basis, with a simple majority (22 of the 43 clubs) needed to determine the outcome.

Should this model not be approved, the two tiers would not be treated separately and the votes of all 66 clubs would apply to all three divisions. In this case, the league's prescribed voting system would apply rather than one club, one vote.

The step two competitions were suspended on January 22 in the hope of resolving the financial issues which threaten to see the season terminated.

The crisis revolves around emergency government funding to enable clubs to play on despite greatly reduced sources of income and no matchday spectators.

This funding for the first three months of the season came in the form of a £10m government grant to the National League.

However, the government has announced that any further funding to cover the rest of the season must take the form of loans, unless individual clubs can make an exceptional case for grants.

Some clubs have expressed a reluctance to continue on these terms, with 12 in NL North uniting to call for the suspension of the season which is now in place.

The National League has asked for the minutes of a key meeting last November, at which it claims assurances were given by government that crisis funding would not have to be repaid.

Fylde opposed the suspension of the campaign and will certainly vote against its abandonment.

Owner David Haythornthwaite told The Gazette last week that he had proposed a solution to the financial impasse, though he could not discuss this in public.

Of the current suspension, he said: “Having been granted elite status last year, then I believe we need to act like professional sports teams and not throw our toys out of the pram.”

Fylde’s deputy manager Nick Chadwick feels it is the duty of elite clubs to play on if at all possible.

It is a view shared by Fylde’s derby rivals Chorley, who have issued a statement which brands the scrapping of the season “inexcusable”.

It reads: “With the utmost appreciation we will be applying to Sport England for the loans being made available to help us finish this season with pride that we are part of a great competition.”

Fylde have completed exactly one third of their league fixtures and stand third in the table, though they last played on January 9.

Before the competition was suspended, Fylde had seen three matches called off because of positive coronavirus tests.

The postponement of fixtures due to Covid cases was commonplace in NL North last month, with some clubs citing safety concerns as a further reason not to continue the season.

Unlike the PFA-funded twice-weekly Covid tests for all clubs in the EFL, there is no mandatory testing system in the National League.

However, Fylde have introduced their own low-cost rapid testing system and urged fellow clubs to follow suit.

Fylde were relegated after last season was halted and the final table calculated on points-per-game averages.

Team boss Chadwick says Fylde’s players will continue to prepare for a match on Saturday until told otherwise.

Further discussions between the clubs and Sport England were set for today.

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