National League clubs to begin voting on whether season continues or is cancelled

The National League has given all 66 clubs 28 days to cast their vote, although an outcome is expected much sooner.

The Spireites have already said they want the season to continue.

The vote has come about after it emerged that government funding for the rest of the campaign will be provided in loans and not grants, which is not what clubs were expecting.

Firstly, clubs at Step One and Step Two will have to decide whether they want to vote separately on their seasons or be grouped together.

For example, clubs like Chesterfield at Step One may decide they want to vote separately from those at Step Two, to give the season a better chance of continuing.

If this resolution, which needs a 75 per cent majority, passes then clubs in the National League, National League North and National League South will go ahead and vote on their own seasons.

For a season to be declared null and void, it requires more than a 50% per cent majority.

Meanwhile, a campaign has been launched to try and persuade the government to do a U-turn and provide funding in grants.

A petition launched on Monday, signed by almost 4,000 people, states: “Current government loan offers have moved the financial goalposts mid-season and jeopardised the future of our clubs.

“Without adequate and fair funding, the National League will not survive, with consequences felt by thousands of players, supporters and club staff across the UK for many years to come.”