THE Southern League has agreed in a "unanimous" decision to "terminate the season" with its counterparts at the same level – but the National League wants to wait and complete its schedule.

A statement from the Southern League, which covers divisions at the third and fourth tiers of non-league football, said the competitions had "commenced the process" to finish with the FA to make a decision on whether promotion and relegation would be decided on points per game or not happen at all. 

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The statement from the Southern League read: "The Alliance Leagues Committee held the latest of several conference calls last night (Monday) after our own board, and those of the Northern Premier League and Southern League, met over the weekend to determine how we wish to proceed.

"We have also participated in calls with the step five and six clubs.

"The step three and four leagues share the frustration of clubs that it is taking so long to determine whether the 2019-20 season is to end now, and if so on what basis.

"To maintain the integrity of our competitions, we ideally need to apply one solution across the whole of the National League System. However, this may not be possible.

"The Isthmian, Northern Premier and Southern Leagues are unanimous in wanting to terminate the 2019-20 season immediately. The step five and six leagues also support the immediate termination of the season.

"Whether that is done on the basis of determining final placings via average points per game or the season is declared null and void cannot be determined until the National League decides how it wishes to proceed.

"Right now, the National League’s position is that they wish to be able to resume the 2019-20 season at some point.

"The feeder leagues do not support this because our clubs do not have the financial resources to continue to honour player contracts indefinitely.

"The step three and four leagues have therefore commenced the process to terminate the season. This has to be ratified by the FA Council, so there may be a short delay as the relevant documentation is submitted, distributed and approved.

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"Whilst this process is ongoing, and once the National League has finalised how it wishes to proceed, competition issues can then be decided, together with the implications for promotion and relegation."

The statement followed an almost identical release from the Isthmian League, which covers leagues at the same level.