THE Northern League management committee has recommended to its clubs that the current season should be declared null and void for the second successive year.

The move comes as an FA survey is sent out to all Northern League clubs asking for their views on whether the season should continue or not, and how promotion and relegation should be decided if the mood is to continue.

A league statement said: “Having evaluated all the options on offer and the implications for our clubs it is the considered opinion of the LMC that in the current circumstances the only viable option is to declare the current season null and void and aim to get a full 2021-22 season completed commencing in early August 2021.

“Should the situation improve more quickly than is expected, the league would look to offer some competitive football in the form of a cup competition in April/May to enable clubs to recoup some of the missed income and re-engage with supporters but this wouldn’t be mandatory and would only be considered if safe to do so.”

Northern League clubs had played less than a third of their fixtures by the start of November, when the second lockdown started. Some clubs have suggested the season should be extended into June, but the FA wants to end in May.

The FA has also told clubs that fixtures won’t restart until clubs can have spectators up to 30 per cent of their grading requirement and all clubs can access secondary income streams.

However, some clubs feel the current season should be paused and restarted in August, in case there is another lockdown later in 2021.

There is an alternative view put forward by Project Non League which wants the points from the two null and voided seasons added together, and promotion calculated on a points per game basis, which would allow clubs to move up the national system. Redcar Athletic, Shildon, South Shields and West Allotment have shown their support for the idea.

The results of the FA survey are set to be announced in around a fortnight’s time.