Ebbsfleet ready for Relegation

Ebbsfleet United say they will not be launching a legal challenge with regard to relegation from the National League.

Following the end to the regular season and application of unweighted points per game to determine positions, Fleet are set to be relegated to the National League South.

The club have today released a statement, which reads:

“Having regard to the wider interest of the National League, Ebbsfleet United have decided to accept the NL position and what that entails and will decline to proceed with the legal challenge process available to the club. With the National League North and South play-offs being scheduled to commence this coming weekend, we wanted to update our supporters on the end of season outcomes and the league we expect to play in next season.

“The decision to proceed with play-offs in the North and South divisions, combined with the decision by the league membership to decide the 2019/20 season finishing positions based on an unweighted points-per-game basis, means Ebbsfleet United will be relegated should play-offs proceed and be completed. We are fully aware of the fine lines and fractions that have led to that result and have certainly tabled them on behalf of all players, staff and supporters, via the correct and proper channels.

“As all our supporters will know, when the season was prematurely ended our club finished out of the relegation zone and as one of the top form teams in the league. Nevertheless, an unweighted points-per-game system saw us moved down one place into the relegation positions by 0.002 of a point.

“This is the leanest mathematical calculation of any club in the UK to be relegated on this system. We are the only club to be sent into the relegation zone by points-per-game, and one of only three clubs – along with AFC Fylde and Chorley – to be relegated in the only division in the National League framework to retain relegation under the points-per-game season-end solution.”