Fifth Sussex team join 151 clubs fighting decision to axe non-league season and expunge results

A fifth Sussex football club has joined the growing battle to save the season being completely written off for hundreds of non-league sides.
The battle over the non-league season has now led to a nine-page legal letter going to the FA, backed by 151 clubs.The battle over the non-league season has now led to a nine-page legal letter going to the FA, backed by 151 clubs.
The battle over the non-league season has now led to a nine-page legal letter going to the FA, backed by 151 clubs.

East Preston have added their name to a letter of protest to the FA that had already been backed by Hastings, Lancing, Littlehampton and Worthing.

There are now 151 non-league clubs across the country asking for at least a delay before the FA Council meets to ratify whether non-league steps three and downwards should have all their results expunged and start again next season with all teams in the same leagues.

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Of the five Sussex clubs backing the protest, East Preston - who were 17th in the SCFL premier division when football was suspended - are the only one not leading their league and in line for potential promotion.

There has been no date given yet for the FA Council to meet to confirm what will happen, but it is thought the initial date they planned to discuss the issue has already been put back.

The nine-page letter questions the timing of the move to scrub the season and the process that led to the decision being made.

The letter has gone to the FA from solicitors Walker Morris and says clubs do not feel proper consultation or decision-making has taken place in accordance with FA or National League System rules. They call for 'democratic transparency' to be visible to clubs affected by the decision. It is claimed the the whole process has gone ahead in 'unnecessary haste'.

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The letter also points out that if UEFA is saying that 'to decide to abandon domestic competitions now is premature and unjustified, the FA should consider very carefully whether the decision of its committees to do the same is premature and unjustified'.

"The Clubs request that prior to any decision being put to FA Council to be ratified, the FA should ensure that a thorough consultation process has taken place through the leagues to their club members to ensure that what is put to FA Council to ratify is the will of the clubs rather than the will of the Step 3/4 leagues who have been able to control the position for remainder of the football pyramid below them," the letter says.

As well as men's non-league clubs, there are claims women's and disability teams, to whom the move to scrap the season also applies, have not been consulted.

The letter to the FA adds: "The principle to finish the 2019/20 season remains the priority for the clubs, even though it is impossible at this moment to know when or how the season may resume. If, in due course, a decision is taken across the game that the season will be terminated, they appreciate that same position will also have to apply to them."

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