The Football Association council have overwhelmingly agreed to null and void the 2019/20 season between steps three and seven.

It means Kent teams playing in the Isthmian League and Southern Counties East will have records for the season expunged.

A letter was sent to the FA last week, calling for a reverse of the decision, which needed formally ratifying by the FA council.

Herne Bay were among over 100 clubs to sign while Gillingham manager Steve Evans also voiced his disapproval of the decision.

But an FA statement, issued on Thursday, confirms that the season is now officially over for those clubs below the National League. The announcement came the same day that the EFL’s plan to end the season in 56 days was revealed.

An FA statement said: “The request to end the 2019-20 season was taken to the FA Council by the representatives of the relevant committees having been fully supported by the FA Board.

“The FA Council’s vote today was overwhelmingly in favour of ratifying the decision.”

Laurence Jones, The FA’s Head of National League System, said: “We know that it is impossible to reach decisions that will please everybody.

“We entirely sympathise with the teams that oppose the decision affecting their leagues, some of which have perfectly understandable reasons for wanting to see the 2019/20 league season continue.

“But it is important to emphasise that the decisions they took were made in the best interests of all the Leagues, as a collective, and in consultation with key stakeholders across English football.”

The 2019/20 season across Steps 3-7 of the National League System, tiers 3-7 of the women’s football pyramid and the wider grassroots game are all now finished.

The FA Council comprises 118 members with representatives across every level of English football. 102 of them were eligible to vote on the decision.

Mr Jones went onto explain the thinking behind the decision.

He said: “The overwhelming feeling across the Leagues and The FA was that temporarily postponing the 2019/20 season, and resuming at a later date, would create great uncertainty on a number of issues which include: player contracts and squads; scheduling of the 2020/21 season; and the ongoing financial impact on clubs.

“In some leagues, clubs have as many as 16 matches left to play. On the basis that a club was able to play up to two matches per week, this would require at least eight weeks to play out those fixtures. This is before consideration is given to time needed for players to become match fit and for play-off matches to take place prior to the beginning of the 2020/21 season. Notwithstanding the fact that it may not be possible at this level, practically or logistically, for clubs to play up to two matches per week.

“With any restart highly unlikely before 1 June 2020, the situation regarding the expiration of many players’ contracts and registrations would also add uncertainty for many clubs, and it may not be possible for players to play more frequently due to the requirements of their primary jobs.

“All these situations pose significant operational challenges in managing the scheduling of the remaining fixtures across these leagues and, as a result, consideration had to be given to any consequential promotion or relegation at the end of the 2019/20 season.

“With these challenges in mind, the consensus reached by The FA through relevant committees comprised of league representatives, was to bring the 2019/20 season to an immediate end with no promotion or relegation. It means clubs, players, volunteers and supporters are provided with certainty and allows focus to turn to preparing for the 2020/21 season.”

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