Crunch time approaches on whether to scrap National League North season

And so far, only Chorley have officially announced that they have voted to continue.

All 22 clubs have been considering whether to carry on with the current campaign or end it by the end of this month at the latest.

The situation has arisen after the government informed the clubs that any more funding to help them complete the season will have to be administered as loans rather than grants .

That has caused a dispute among many clubs across the division who are not prepared to take on debt.

They had initially been provided with grant funding to help them through the first three months of the season which covered the shortfall in their matchday finances , with no supporters allowed inside grounds to watch games.

However, the news that clubs will now have to take out loans caused the campaign to be temporarily suspended for two weeks towards the end of last month.

And despite the fact that the season was due to re-start on Saturday, only one fixture has been fulfilled over the past week – Chorley’s away game at Brackley Town on Saturday.

Although some games on Tuesday night fell foul of the cold snap, several clubs have revealed that they are not prepared to play any more games until a resolution has been found.

They insist they cannot afford to put their club at risk by taking out loans which would put the club in debt and have decided not to fulfil their immediate games due to the ongoing uncertainty.

Second-placed Chester have already announced that they have voted to have the 2020/21 campaign declared null and void.

They have been followed by Gateshead, Farsley Celtic, Spennymoor Town, AFC Telford United and Bradford Park Avenue, who have all declared their wish to see the season cancelled.

Leaders Gloucester City – who Chorley travel to this weekend – along with play-off hopefuls AFC Fylde, Brackley Town, Kidderminster Harriers, Boston United,

York City and Leamington have all intimated that they wish to continue although they have not officially declared which way they intend to vote, while Hereford, as yet, have remained silent on the issue.

The bottom seven – Curzon Ashton, Southport, Kettering Town, Darlington Guiseley, Alfreton Town and Blyth Spartans – have revealed that they are not willing to play any more games until a resolution has been reached and have indicated they will not be able to continue the season under the present funding terms.

Clubs have up to the end of this month to submit their votes.