What have the promotion-chasing National League clubs said about the season ending? We’ve taken a look and rounded up how they reacted.
The National League are currently in talks on what options to give their non league clubs to vote on after choosing to end the season now.
Barrow manager Ian Evatt has said that they voted for the campaign to immediately finish with the club top of the league. It comes weeks after he said it was nonsense if they were to void it.
He told talkSPORT: “Some may say that is a huge gamble for us being where we are, but it is the right thing to do for football.
“The most important thing is that clubs survive, I get that, but secondary we feel like we have been the best team over a long period of time and we hope that people see it the same way.”
Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver told the Harrogate Advertiser: “It’s in our league rules that two teams go up, and it’s in the EFL rules that two come down.
“The next vote will be to decide how we determine who goes up and I think it will be very interesting to see how it’s all resolved.”
They voted against the proposal to cancel the remaining matches.
Third place Notts County are disappointed that the season has come to an end but still hope they can participate in the playoffs, which hasn’t been ruled out.
The club said in a statement: “While we appreciate the views of other clubs and respect the overall outcome of this vote as a representation of opinion across the three divisions, our stance has always been that the National League should operate in tandem with the EFL due to the intrinsic link between the two leagues.
“To be clear, while all remaining scheduled league matches have been cancelled, we are not ruling out a return to action in some form between now and the formal conclusion of the 2019-20 campaign.”
Fourth place Yeovil Town are one of many clubs who are yet to return their vote, however it won’t mean anything as majority are in favour of ending now.
Chairman Scott Priestnall hit out at the National League for making clubs vote and said it was not his intention to.
Boreham Wood chief Danny Hunter put his club’s position, fifth, out of his mind when talking of this matter.
He told the BBC: “I don’t see how you can have promotion, play-offs or relegation,” he told the BBC. “People have to accept things for how they are.
“Would we be a loser because we are in a play-off spot? Yes we would be, but there’s a worldwide pandemic. The one thing I’ve managed to do is keep my staff safe, keep them paid and keep them on board. That’s far more important than a play-off game.”
FC Halifax Town boss Pete Wild wants his side to be given a chance at competing in the playoffs.
Speaking to the Halifax Courier, he said: “There now needs to be a completion to the season play-off wise, relegation-wise, promotion-wise. “There has to be in my opinion.
“I’m frustrated how it’s come out, that all clubs haven’t voted yet, so how can you come out with a vote without it being finalised?”
Stockport County, who sit in the last playoff spot, said they wanted to resume the season when safe to do so.
A club statement read: “However, this resolution and the voting behaviour clearly demonstrates the precarious nature of finances at this level of football.
“Our hope in these difficult times, is that clubs come together, those with things to play for and those that don’t, to try and find a solution that upholds sporting integrity as much as possible in determining the sporting outcomes of the season.”
After reading what promotion-chasing National League clubs said about season ending, fans gave their reaction…
Wrongly voted out of the football league in ’72, nearly folded in 1999 , now 48 years later a new vote could see us back @TheVanaramaNL , @EFL it’s time to put things right please back @BarrowAFC #backthebluebirds
— nigel walker (@nigewalker1) April 23, 2020
Can’t see them relegating anyone if they don’t complete the season, straight swop Barrow in for Bury
— mkbroadbent37 (@mkbroadbent37) April 23, 2020
Well written measured response from class owners
— Eli Duckett (@Pieman28002245) April 22, 2020
I hope that if they promote Barrow we take the league to court. One team hit form at a good time, us, we would of taken that top spot.
— Lee Atkins (@eelsnikta) April 22, 2020
Exactly …if you abort the season then all results are nil & void !
End of arguement !!
— Paddy Lavin (@PaddyTheOwl) April 22, 2020
They really have got a first class chairman at the helm.
— Phil Tuson (@PhilT0206) April 22, 2020
Danny Hunter has his critics , but usually when he speaks publicly what he says makes sense and he is spot on here.
He has built a club through his business acumen , it has a growing fan base and fantastic facilities and the club connects with the town more and more each year 1/2— Steve Newing (@Stevenewing14) April 23, 2020
Load of rubbish. If Danny was chairman of Barrow would he say that?? If he’s not bothered about progression through the leagues then go and run a Sunday pub team.
— brian.mark.foster@gm (@brianfoster4274) April 23, 2020
Spot on from Danny Hunter.
— Ian Coles (@IanC1959) April 22, 2020
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