FA confirm National League decision

The Football Association have rubber-stamped the National League’s upcoming promotion play-offs and decision to end the season early because of the coronavirus.

The FA ratified the proposal to end the regular 2019-20 campaign on Thursday, as well as the June 17 vote by a majority of clubs in all three divisions to calculate the final standings on a points-per-game basis.

The FA Council confirmed Barrow’s return to the English Football League as champions after a 48 year absence and also gave the green light to the promotion play-offs to kick off in all three divisions.

The National League’s promotion final to decide who goes up with the Bluebirds is booked to take place at Wembley on 2 August.

The game’s governing body approved the National League’s moves on the eve of the promotion play-offs kicking off on Friday night with BT Sport live streaming the eliminator match between Boreham Wood and FC Halifax.

Thursday’s statement read: “The FA Council has ratified both the National League’s proposal on concluding the 2019/20 season at Steps 1 and 2 of the National League System [NLS] and the required amendments to the NLS Regulations and Standardised Rules for it to become effective.

“The ratification follows a recommendation from the FA’s Alliance Leagues Committee and allows the National League to: rank clubs on a points per game basis; apply the automatic promotion and relegation based on the position of clubs on that basis; and proceed with play-off matches in accordance with the Government’s Return to Domestic Competition guidance.”