Eastbourne Borough's season is over - but will National League clubs still be promoted and relegated?

Eastbourne Borough's season is officially over. The news that many had expected but had taken an age to be confirmed finally came in a National League statement on Wednesday afternoon.
Action in the Eastbourne Boro - Maidstone game, which has turned out to be the final match of the 19-20 season / Picture: Jon RigbyAction in the Eastbourne Boro - Maidstone game, which has turned out to be the final match of the 19-20 season / Picture: Jon Rigby
Action in the Eastbourne Boro - Maidstone game, which has turned out to be the final match of the 19-20 season / Picture: Jon Rigby

National League clubs have voted to end the 2019-20 season at its current point, with promotion and relegation outcomes 'under careful consideration'.

The league's board had urged clubs in its three divisions to vote in favour of ending the regular season without any more games being played and the league said there was a clear majority of clubs in favour from the responses returned.

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A National League statement added: "In the knowledge that the ordinary resolution has passed, the League's board has chosen to communicate the decision now and before the last few responses are received, which will not change the outcome, to enable clubs to make business decisions with greater clarity as soon as possible.

"The options concerning the sporting outcomes of the 2019-20 season remain under careful and timely consideration, and further updates will be given in due course."

Whether points per game are used to calculate final tables is a huge issue for some clubs - such as Barrow, who were were four points clear at the top of the National League premier when the season was halted.

But Eastbourne Borough were in the bottom half of National South but not in any real danger of going down, so they have known all along they will be staying in the division for 2020-21.

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National League chief executive Michael Tattersall added: "At a time when the entire country is wrestling with the devastating impact of Covid-19, the cancellation of the remaining normal season matches brings a degree of certainty to our clubs coping with the business implications of the virus."

One possible problem remains - if the National League decide teams should be promoted and relegated, there will effectively be nowhere for clubs in the drop zones of the north and south to go down to, for steps three downwards have been told their seasons are over and results expunged.

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