Project Non League: Could this be the answer instead of a second null and void season?

With Covid-19 cases still rising in the United Kingdom, it is looking increasingly likely that the divisions below the National League North and South will have their results wiped from the history books for a second consecutive season 10 months on from the last one.

To help the FA move away from the null and void scenario for the second consecutive season, a new Twitter account has been created to help the cause. ‘Project Non League – Avoid Null and Void’ has called on the FA to use the points-per-game system using results from the past two seasons.

Clubs from steps three to six of the pyramid have until Friday to return an FA survey on how they think the 2020/21 season should be concluded.

A number of solutions including null and void, restarting the current campaign in August and playing a percentage of remaining fixtures then using a points-per-game system have been suggested.

Points-per-game was the chosen method to complete League One, League Two and the three National League divisions last season. But every league below the sixth tier had their season cancelled by null and voiding the results.

The campaign has grabbed the attention of national press showing football exists below the sixth tier.

The Football Association was due to restructure the non-league system at the end of the 2019/20 season before null and voiding the season which then pushed it back to the end of the 2020/21 season.

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Former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright has backed the campaign and supports the idea that the points-per-game method should be used to promote the strongest teams in tiers seven to 10 in England. The non-league pyramid would then be restructured at the end of the 2020/21 season with no clubs being relegated out of their respective divisions.

Each division at steps three to six of the non-league system had the same teams in them from last season. Except for the Southern Premier South which is two teams down from last season’s null and void.

Former Blackfield & Langley manager Glenn Howes and assistant manager James Wood took the club from step five to three in two seasons. Photo (Ben Pennells)

Blackfield & Langley took voluntary relegation from the seventh tier after their dramatic rise up the divisions over the last three years found themselves back in the Wessex League for the 2020/21 season.

Merthyr Town decided before the season would even begin this year that they would pull out of the Southern League following all the restrictions in Wales. This ultimately resulting in no matches being played for them and having less games to work with on PPG.

Steve Richardson, chairman of ninth-tier side 1874 Northwich told Prost:

“Over the last 17 months there has been a lot of football that has been played which can give everyone a clear understanding of the strongest teams in each league.

“We propose that if we can’t complete the season safely, it would make sense to implement PPG – with some very important points; no team should be relegated and reward the strongest teams with promotion to allow the FA to restructure the Non League system.”

Infinity FC in action. Photo (Ben Pennells)

The system restructure will now see three new divisions added to the current structure; one at step four and two at step five. The restructure will also boost the number of National League North and South sides from 22 to 24 to match the National League.

For the leagues to be formed in a fair manner, the top team in each of the four step three leagues will be promoted with the next two teams from the four divisions with the best PPG promoted to step two.

The top team in each of the seven step four leagues will be promoted to step three.

The top two clubs from each of the 14 leagues at step five would be promoted to help create the eighth step four division.

The top three clubs from each of the 20 leagues at step six will be promoted along with the 10 best teams that didn’t finish in the top three and just like the promotion from step five to four this will help the FA create the two new divisions at step five.

This would insure that the FA’s non-league pyramid would be completed as each step of the non-league system has more divisions as you go down.

Under the current proposal of using PPG from the past two seasons, United Services Portsmouth from the Sydenhams Wessex One would be promoted to the Wessex Premier following two decent seasons.

US Portsmouth head coach Glenn Turnbull spoke to the Portsmouth News:

“I don’t see how clubs would not support this.

“This makes perfect sense to me but I am 100% bias.

“If they want to be fair and transparent, this is the only way to do it.”

With last season being null and void, Turnbull was concerned that people were not going to take this because all the records of the previous season where wiped.

“But, as always, too many cooks could spoil the broth. We supported the idea on social media and we’ve already had some backlash, saying ‘last season was null and void.”

Having another null and void season won’t solve anything for the restructure of the non-league system and it won’t reward the teams that have pushed themselves over the last two seasons.

Hampshire Premier League side Infinity have been knocking on the door for promotion to the Wessex League for the last few seasons and were in pole position to go up last season before step seven along with steps three to six was declared null and void.

This season steps seven has been classed as a feeder league to step six and it’s up to the divisions to decide how they end their season.

Two divisions at step seven, the Lincolnshire Football League and West Lancashire League, have been declared null and void for the second season running.

Infinity co-owner Simon Tribe running the line. Photo (Ben Pennells)

Infinity co-owner Simon Tribe told Prost about how he feels that the season should end for the side:

“With the FA looking at restructure the pyramid null and voiding the season is not an option for us we back the PPG from the last two seasons.

“Applying PPG to our two seasons we would be promoted to step six.

“There is a space in Wessex One open to fill out the league to 20 teams again and we would be one of the teams that would be in contention to take it.”

If the Hampshire Premier League declare their season null and void again not only does it stop Infinity from progressing but will leave the Wessex League with one less team for next season.

With grounds looking like this now.

A conman sight across Non League football at the moment. Photo: (Ben Pennells)

Income for many of these sides are low as they only trade on a match day. Null and voiding a second season will not only annoy clubs who have lost income but will annoy fans who want their club to progress.

Project Non League is the fairest way to end the season and restructure the pyramid for next season when clubs and fans can hope to have a completed season for the first time since 2018/19.