Combined Counties Football League secretary Alan Constable confirmed they pushed for a fair solution for all clubs in Step 5 and 6 of the National League ladder as the English FA prepared to cancel the remainder of the current campaign.
Bulls’ immediate promotion hopes have been jeopardised, with their record-breaking inaugural season – including 27 consecutive wins – being scrubbed from the history books.
Online media reports suggested earlier this week that the FA had already called time on the season with immediate effect, with a further decision to be made on whether to calculate promotion and relegation on a points-per-game ratio or render the season null and void. If the latter was chosen it would imply that Bulls remain at Step 6 [the tenth tier of English football], despite having already sealed promotion.
Confusion was caused by now-deleted announcements from the official Twitter account of the Essex Senior League stating the season had been cancelled, with further posts elsewhere implying that the ‘null and void’ route is favoured by those at the top.
The CCFL, however, played down both of those suggestions.
‘We’ve not heard any more since our chairman Chris Conlon attended a video meeting with the FA on Tuesday,’ Constable told the JEP. ‘If we had I would instantly post the news on our website. To say anything else just yet is simply conjecture.
‘We believe a decision will be made [by the FA] that there will be no more football played this season and that there are only two options. That the season is null and void or we finish it on a points per game basis. As a league we overwhelmingly support PPG and we understand that the majority of the clubs support PPG too. It’s the fairest way.
‘How can you turn around to Jersey Bulls and say after they’ve won all their 27 league games that you’re not being promoted?’
In a CCFL referendum for its 41 clubs, 12 voted to end a season ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic on points-per-game, with ten opting to declare it null and void. Eleven others voted to resume when possible while four believe current standings should be used. Five clubs did not vote.
More in Thursday’s JEP.
