Opinion: Stronger leadership needed from National League so Chesterfield can start planning for next season

With regards to next season, as it stands, they do not have a permanent manager, they do not know whether Dave Allen or the community trust will be running the club and they do not know when the new season will start.

All of those bring their own issues such as not knowing which players they can or can’t sign, not knowing when they can put season tickets on sale and not knowing when to organise pre-season friendlies and when to return to training.

The only certain thing right now is uncertainty.

At least one less worry is that we do know they will be playing in the National League next season.

There is no doubt that the National League bosses have had it tough with the current crisis because there is no rule book for such an unprecedented event.

But in my opinion they have shown a lack of strong leadership. Instead of taking a grip of the situation they have flapped at it and allowed it to drag on for far too long.

They put people at risk when they allowed games to go ahead on March 14 when all other fixtures in the top four divisions were cancelled, they shied away from responsibility when they put the decision whether to cancel the season or not in clubs’ hands and they have done the same again with the play-offs.

The National League season was brought to a halt two months ago and still some clubs don’t know whether they will be involved in the play-offs or relegated from the division. It is not good enough.

Communication to fans has been very poor and they have had to rely on rumours and speculation.

The National League now needs to take charge and be quick and decisive regarding what is going to be happening next season. When will the season start? Will games be played behind closed doors to start with? Or will they wait until fans can return to stadiums? Clubs need to know immediately. There is too much at stake.