National League clubs asked to give views on whether play-offs should be postponed or cancelled

Clubs have been given until this Friday to state whether the play-offs should be postponed or cancelled altogether.

“Once that decision has been made, then a decision may be required to decide on the clubs that qualify for the play-offs given that the remaining scheduled fixtures have been cancelled,” the National League said in a letter.

The league said the only two alternatives “seem to be accepting the league positions as they stood at the date the season was effectively abandoned, or creating a new league table on a mathematical basis.”

However, the EFL has stated that if the League Two season is not completed then the second promotion spot from the National League “could be jeopardised.”

This would mean that Stevenage, bottom of League Two, would not be relegated and so only one team would be promoted from the National League.

“The current EFL position as outlined verbally to the National League and The FA is that if the National League completes its play-offs following the existing approved format and League Two completes its season, it is reasonable to assume the National League play-off winner can be promoted as the ‘National League runner- up’,” the league said, “However, if either of these conditions were not fulfilled, it is quite possible that the promotion place for the play-off winner could be jeopardised.”

Depending on the feedback, a different decision on the play-offs could be reached for the National League compared to the North and South divisions.

The National League play-offs, introduced in 2002/03, were due to take place between April 29 and May 10 but this is not now possible.

If the play-offs are postponed it could impact on next season’s start date of August 8, the league added, although a “compromise may be possible.”

The National League will have to apply to the FA Council for an extension if the season is to run beyond June 1.