FA confirms National League plans for the end of 2020/21 season

The FA confirmed on Friday that the season for clubs at Step 2 of non-league (National League North and South) has been declared null and void, while the National League season at Step 1 will be played to a conclusion, with no promotion and relegation between the two tiers. 

The FA’s Alliance committee considered a proposal from a group of Step 2 clubs for a possible competition to replace the remainder of the season, which would have seen those clubs who opted in able to gain one of two promotion places to the National League.

The new mini-league in which each team would play each other once, which was supported by around 15 Step 2 clubs, would have seen clubs retaining the points they had already won in the 2020-21 season on a pro-rated points-per-game basis.

With no relegation from the National League, however, this would have created an imbalanced set of divisions for 2021-22, and the proposal was rejected.

Announcing the decision, the FA said: “The Alliance Committee rejected the proposal, and any alternative, in the interest of the integrity of the National League System. Further reasons for this decision will be communicated directly to clubs in due course.”

The decision confirms the results of a consultation undertaken by the league, in which the majority of clubs opted to end the season at Step 2. Clubs in the National League will still be eligible for promotion to the EFL.