Final whistle blown on AFC Telford's season
AFC Telford United’s season is over after clubs in National League North voted to declare the campaign null and void.
With fans not able to attend matches due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, teams throughout non-league are struggling to cope with day-to-day running costs.
National League and National League North and South clubs were offered an £11m loan to cover expenses from January to March by the UK government.
It had been hoped, though, that money would have been in the form of a grant rather than a low-cost loan.
Clubs were then asked to vote on a resolution for the 2020/21 National League, North and South campaigns.
Telford voted for the season to be declared null and void with all records wiped.
In total 24 clubs from Step 2 – which consists of National League North and National League South – voted in favour of ending the season prematurely.
A total of 19 clubs voted to carry on playing.
As the vote required only a simple majority of more than 50 per cent, the resolution has passed.
Teams in the National League, including Wrexham, will carry on playing.
A statement from AFC Telford United said: “Following a vote from all 66 National League clubs it has been confirmed that the 2020/21 National League North/South season has been declared null and void and the National League (Step 1) will continue.
“Although we welcome this news as a football club, because it gives certainty, we will now need a little bit of time to digest the news and work on a plan as a way we can move forward to ensure we secure the future of AFC Telford United and make sure we are in a position to start the 2021/22 campaign, which we will be.”
