'I can't see any National League football being played this year', warns club chairman

The remaining National League fixtures have been cancelled and clubs have been asked to give their views on the feasibility of playing the play-offs at a later date or cancelling them.

Boreham Wood chairman, Danny Hunter, said: “No matter what way I look, no matter how I interpret the government guidelines, I just cannot see how any football at our level in 2020 will be possible until a vaccine is found.”

The Premier League and the EFL are looking at the possibility of playing games behind closed doors but it is believed there is no appetite for that at non-league level due to how much cllubs rely on matchday revenue.

“If we play behind closed doors at National League level, then bankruptcy is assured for most clubs, so that option cannot happen,” Mr Hunter said.

The Boreham chairman would like to see stronger leadership from the National League who have come under fire for the way they have dealt with the situation so far.

“As an example of my sleepless nights and calls for transparency, an important National League administrator, who trust me is a very honest and good guy, somewhat foolishly told me three weeks ago to prepare for the play-offs and then two weeks later flip flopped and told me that he didn’t feel there would be football at our level in 2020,” Mr Hunter said.

He added: “So, let the National League continue with their ‘non-decision’ letters that are nothing more a politician’s dodge and let them get on with the fantasy island conference calls and Zoom meetings, as they pretend and try to convince us that we are a big part of the professional game and the wider football family.”

He also slammed the lack of financial support non-league clubs have received so far.

He added: “Trust me when I tell you that the Premier League and EFL have at the time of writing, given us nothing in terms of any new financial support, just that advance on monies that were already contracted to us in August.”