Southport FC will be awarded just over £13,000 by the Premier League to help the club survive the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.
The National League North, which the Sandgrounders play in, was suspended last month after numbers of cases of people suffering and dying from Covid-19 began to soar.
Southport has since begun a fundraising page in a bid to keep the club afloat amidst the uncertainty over what will happen next. Local businessman Paul Newnham has led the way by donating £10,000.
The National League has now advised clubs in its three divisions to vote in favour of ending the regular season without playing games that were scheduled up to 25 April.
If the vote passes, clubs will then be asked to help “determine the outcomes of the season” through further polls.
A decision is expected to be made next week, with play-offs still possible.
The Football Association meanwhile has ratified a decision to end non-league football below National League level.
The FA Council’s decision confirms the immediate expunging of the 2019-20 seasons in steps three to seven of the non-league men’s game, as well as the women’s pyramid below Women’s Super League and Championship level and the wider grassroots game.
After a meeting today, the National League board wrote to member clubs, who play in tiers five and six of the men’s game, also known as steps one and two of non-league.
We set up a brew stop for brave 999 workers battling Covid-19 crisis
The letter explains that the board have approved the idea of immediately ending the regular season – but leaves open the possibility of clubs voting to stage promotion / relegation play-off games.
The board has received £2million of funding from the Premier League, which will be sent out to clubs next week, with £58,333 to be given to each National League club and £13,636 each to those in the North and South divisions, including Southport.
The letter says: “The board has approved an ordinary resolution for clubs, that the playing season shall immediately end for all fixtures scheduled up to and including 25 April 2020. The board recommends clubs vote for this resolution.
“If the ordinary resolution is passed and the remaining ‘normal season’ league matches of the season are cancelled, the league will then immediately proceed with a poll of North and South clubs to determine the outcomes of the season across those divisions.
“This will be followed by a vote to determine the outcomes of the season in the National Division.
“The appropriate options to determine the outcomes of the season are being diligently prepared, and will be approved by the board before they are sent to clubs in due course.”
