What does outcome of EFL vote mean for the National League

What does the outcome of the EFL vote, which took place across Tuesday morning through to the afternoon, mean for the National League?

A League Two club is set to be relegated into non league for next season, after a vote by clubs today.

Following a vote by all 71 clubs at an Extraordinary General Meeting today, it was overwhelmingly agreed (by a majority of all clubs and a majority in the Championship) to adopt the EFL Board’s proposal into EFL Regulations. That means the following applies in the event ‘a division curtails its 2019/20 season or it is ended by any other means’:

– Final divisional placings will be determined on unweighted points per game (if required).
– Promotion and relegation should be retained.
– Play-offs will be played in all circumstances but will not be extended (beyond four teams).

League Two clubs have voted to curtail the season. In the latest league table, Stevenage are bottom by three points, with a game in hand on Macclesfield Town. However, a disciplinary case from the league against Macclesfield means there could be a further points deduction. The Silkmen have already been deducted 11 points.

It’s understood that an independent commission will vote on which team is relegated from League Two.

A National League board meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, after Tuesday’s decision by the EFL.

The National League have already been granted an extension to its season by the Football Association meaning that the playoffs could potentially now be held.

One team will be coming down from League Two, with it likely that Barrow would be promoted.

However EFL would need to feel the gap that Bury’s expulsion created, meaning the playoffs look likely to go ahead, in our eyes anyway.

In other news emerging today, South Shields have had their legal challenge to the Football Association’s decision to declare all leagues below the National League null and void dismissed.

The FA said: “An independent arbitral tribunal has dismissed a legal challenge brought by South Shields FC against the decision of the FA Council to end the season with no promotion or relegation at Steps 3 to 7 of the National League System due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The three person panel rejected the club’s arguments in their entirety that the decision was unlawful.

“The FA is acutely aware that any decision taken in such difficult circumstances would leave some clubs disappointed. However, we welcome the findings of the independent tribunal that the decision of the FA Council was taken after due and proper consultation and following careful consideration of the alternative options.”

After seeing what does the outcome of the EFL vote mean for the National League, fans replied their thoughts to the situation. See what they said by clicking on the next page.

NEXT PAGE

Pages: 1 2