FC Halifax Town: “There must be play-offs” says Town boss Wild after National League cancels remaining fixtures

It was announced earlier today (Wednesday) that the decision to scrap the rest of the league season has been ratified by the National League, but promotion and relegation issues are still to be decided.

But Wild insists the play-offs have to go ahead.

“There now needs to be a completion to the season play-off wise, relegation-wise, promotion-wise,” he said. “There has to be in my opinion.

“I’m frustrated how it’s come out, that all clubs haven’t voted yet, so how can you come out with a vote without it being finalised?

“But there must be play-offs, there must.”

When asked if he thought the decision on how to resolve promotion and relegation issues should go to another vote, the Town boss said: “I think it’s got to be a league decision. Again, you’re going to get the indiscrepancies of how people vote because they’ll all vote for their own gain, as they have done in this vote.

“I think you can toss a coin now for what happens. And I think they’re waiting to see what the EFL do.”

In a statement, FC Halifax Town said: “We’re extremely disappointed with this decision and certainly not a decision we voted for.

“We need absolute clarity over the coming days as to the next steps in deciding the outcome of the 19/20 campaign.

‘’We remain adamant that there needs to be a resolution to this season.

“Once again we’d like to thank our fans and sponsors for all their support over the season and especially over the last turbulent six weeks”
National League Chief Executive Officer, Michael Tattersall, said earlier, “At a time when the entire country is wrestling with the devastating impact of Covid-19, the cancellation of the remaining normal season matches brings a degree of certainty to our clubs coping with the business implications of the virus.

“In consideration of the very serious and unprecedented national public health emergency caused by the coronavirus, National League, National League North and National League South football activities have been suspended since 16 March.

“The options concerning the sporting outcomes of the 2019/20 season remain under careful and timely consideration, and further updates will be given in due course.”

In a statement on their website, the National League said earlier: “National League clubs were asked to support an ordinary resolution on 9 April to end the playing season for all fixtures scheduled up to and including 25 April 2020.

“With almost 90 per cent of responses returned it is evident a clear majority of clubs are in favour, including a majority of clubs in each of the National League, National League North and National League South divisions.

“In the knowledge that the ordinary resolution has passed, the league’s board has chosen to communicate the decision now and before the last few responses are received, which will not change the outcome, to enable clubs to make business decisions with greater clarity as soon as possible.

“Clubs yet to respond still have an opportunity to do so, and the League wishes to include as many preferences as possible before the final voting result is declared.”


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