Harrogate Town react to National League's decision to suspend 2019/20 indefinitely

The National League has suspended competition indefinitely, with decisions still to be made regarding how best to conclude 2019/20.
Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver. Picture: Matt KirkhamHarrogate Town manager Simon Weaver. Picture: Matt Kirkham
Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver. Picture: Matt Kirkham

Fixtures in England's fifth and sixth tiers were originally postponed until April 3, but a decision was made at a board meeting on Tuesday to extend the suspension as the coronavirus death toll in England continues to rise on a daily basis.

The National League has acted after all of the non-league divisions below them in the English footballing pyramid saw their seasons cancelled with immediate effect and declared null and void.

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Ultimately, however, Harrogate Town managing director Garry Plant believes that it is what the Premier League and Football League decide to do that will determine promotion and relegation issues in his club's division.

"The fact of the matter is that we have to wait and see what is happening further up the food chain," he said.

"That's where we're at. If the Premier League can't make its mind up, then how can the National League?

"No-one knows what is going to happen because nobody has even been here before. This is an unprecedented situation."

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A statement released by the National League on Tuesday afternoon said:

'The National League Board met earlier today and has reviewed its prior decision to suspend the competition until at least 3rd April 2020.

'In consideration of the very serious and unprecedented national public health emergency caused by the coronavirus, the Board has taken the decision to suspend the National League, National League North and National League South competitions indefinitely.

'The National League is currently obtaining specialist legal advice, is consulting regularly with The Football Association and other stakeholders, and is committed to involving its member clubs in a pending decision on how best to conclude the 2019/20 season.'

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Town manager Simon Weaver echoed Plant's sentiments, but admitted he can understand why the National League don't want to rush into a decision.

"It's not much of a development," he said, reflecting on Tuesday's announcement.

"You try to read into it as much as you can, but essentially this is just a bit of a pause while we wait on the levels above.

"It's a bit a tangled mess, this situation, but we have to remember that we're in the middle of a pandemic and you can understand why the powers that be want to give themselves chance to breathe before they make any radical moves."

Town currently sit second in the National League standings, four points behind leaders Barrow and were very much in the title race before the 2019/20 campaign was suspended earlier this month.