The following is an extract of a communication received by all Midland League clubs yesterday, from Laurence C. Jones, Head of the National League System:

“RE: Season 2019-2020 Termination

May I first thank you for your ongoing support and co operation during this most unprecedented of times facing us. It has been important that all leagues of our National League System (NLS) pulled together during this COVID -19 pandemic and each league has played an important role in this.

As you will be aware, the FA has been consulting and listening to all leagues within the NLS and feeding this this into both the Alliance and League’s committees to attempt to give clarity to all stakeholders as soon as was feasible.

The clubs within the NLS are facing challenging times and the FA will continue to gain as much guidance from Government by way of support that we can, in terms of information for clubs on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and other Business Support packages announced by the Treasury.

In light of the unprecedented challenges we face, the FA and the leagues have been in discussions regarding the potential options which are available with regard to the 2019/2020 season. This letter sets out the outcome of those discussions with regard to Steps 3 to 6. In assessing the available options, we have considered the impact of each option on clubs, players, staff and the fabulous volunteer network within the NLS. We have also taken into account the interests of supporters and the impact of any decision on the sporting integrity of the NLS and football more generally, as well as any commercial or financial considerations for all those involved in football at this level. We also need to consider the impact of any decision on next season.

As you will appreciate, football is a broad church, and there is no one size fits all solution to the current situation. This means that consideration must be given to the unique circumstances of each level of the game, and a solution is reached which best serves the needs of each level.

Consideration has been given to whether the season could be extended indefinitely, or to some later date in the future in order for it to be completed. However, given the current uncertainty regarding when it will be possible to resume competitive football, and the fact that many clubs and contracted players want certainty over when football will resume, this option is likely to present great difficulty for Steps 3, 4, 5 and 6.

On the basis that the season is ended now, consideration was given to whether a mechanism should be used to calculate final league tables and preserve promotion and relegation between Steps 3 to 6.

Whilst inevitably some clubs will favour this option, and the merits of it have been fully considered by the FA and the leagues, it has been decided that this is not the best option to serve the needs of Steps 3 to 6.

As a result, the FA and the Leagues at Steps 3 to 6 have reached a consensus that the 2019 / 20 season will be ended with immediate effect and all results will be expunged. This will mean no promotion or relegation of clubs between Steps 3 to 6, or relegation from Step 2.

In light of this, this will also apply to Leagues and Clubs at Step 7.

The planned implementation of the re structure of the NLS will be deferred until the start of the 2021/2022 season. The decisions reached by the NLS leagues will be recommended to the FA Board and FA Council for final ratification.”

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President : VACANT

Chairman: Pip Hanson 07966 644762

Treasurer: Pip Hanson

Secretary: Graham Haighway  07780 997758 email:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Commercial Manager: Nigel Wager 07912 890997

Press Officer: Ian Johnson 07970 237758  email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Committee Members: Ian Sword, Margaret Sword, Brian Hewitt, Tony Lavery, Stuart Adey, Paul Reynolds, Mark Wenham, Claire Beard, Paul Frankling

Life Members: Ian Sword,Sylvia McDonald

Team Manager : Quentin Townsend

Assistant Manager: Mark Danks

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