The conclusion to the National League North season leaves a bitter taste in the mouth for Chorley FC

The Football Association last week turned down proposals to create a second National League to operate underneath the top-flight of non-league football for the remainder of the 2020/21 campaign.

Nineteen clubs from the National League North and South had joined forces to implore the governing bodies to sanction the division which would have allowed them to continue playing this season.

Last month they had been outvoted by 24 of their fellow clubs to have the campaign declared null and void due to a dispute over funding.

The new proposal would have seen the amalgamation of clubs from the North and South with two promotion places available and no relegation.

What particularly angers Chorley is that they were demoted from the National League last season when the campaign was cut short in March and was decided on a points-per-game system.

They were prevented from fighting for their survival then and have now been denied the opportunity to win promotion this season.

Chief executive of the Magpies Terry Robinson, who revealed that the club has yet to receive official confirmation that the season is over, said: “There’s not going to be any promotion out of the National League North and South this season, but if you think that last season ourselves, AFC Fylde and Ebbsfleet United were relegated on a points-per-game system.

“This season, there’s going to be no relegation from any of the divisions and clubs have been refusing to play.

“It just doesn’t seem right to us. It’s left a bitter taste in our mouths.

“I think the first thing to say to it all is obviously with the Covid-19 pandemic, we are living in a difficult time.

“But last season, we felt that was the right way to do it because there was still promotion and relegation.

“The sense of injustice for us is that they have not allowed us to try to win our place back in the National League because they have refused to sanction a plan for those who want to carry on playing.

“The authorities don’t appear to want football to continue. Nineteen clubs from our league wanted to continue and they have been stopped from doing so.”

Support us and become a subscriber today. Enjoy unlimited access to local news, the latest football stories and new puzzles every day. With a digital subscription, you can see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe.