The promotion hopes of a substantial number of other clubs of overturning the FA’s decision to expunge the 2019/20 appear over after South Shields lost their appeal.
A tribunal reached the decision, ironically on the day League One and League Two voted to end their seasons and apply points-per-game ratios to decide the table.
A South Shields statement said: “An arbitration hearing has now been held before a panel and although the judgement insisted it was ‘impossible not to feel sympathy for South Shields’ and similarly affected clubs, the claim was dismissed.
“The club is grateful for all the support it received from a significant number of other clubs in making its legal challenge.
“The process was very time consuming and expensive and the outcome is clearly hugely disappointing.”
FA statement on South Shields appeal against null & void being dismissed “The 3 person panel rejected the clubs arguments in their entirety that the decision was unlawful. The FA is aware that any decision taken in such difficult circumstances would leave some clubs disappointed”
To me it should ALL be null & void. Was one of the few sensible decisions made by authorities during the covid 19 crisis.
I would make every div that way. As it is, it does seem crazy/unfair that how things are ending for you depends on which div you happened to be in for 19-20. PL playing… 3rd/4th divs making it up… confs…??? NPL null n void etc.
It WILL be interesting (in a morbid way) to see how this all pans out… a club or more leaving the FL (if they have somewhere to go to!!), 2 or more going up into the FL – the confs then has to pull 2-3 clubs out of its 2nd divs, no promotions from null n void below… confs 2nd divs could be 21 & 20 in 20-21… assuming 20-21 happens! All crazy