Hawks boss Doswell fears biggest threat to National League season being completed is NOT the pandemic

Instead, the Hawks boss stressed the way clubs in the fifth and sixth tiers receive an £11m financial support package could determine whether the current campaign is completed.

National League clubs are still waiting to hear whether money made available to them through the government Sport Winter Survival Package will come in the form of grants or loans.

Clubs were told when they started the season additional support from the £10m government bailout fund received for October, November and December would arrive if supporters were still not permitted to return to grounds after that period.

Yet, as things stand and time ticking down before players' wages are required to be paid, National League teams still have no answer on whether handouts for this month, February and March will come in the form of grants.

However, Doswell insisted the three divisions across the NL may not be completed if clubs are forced to take loans.

‘I would say that’s the biggest threat to the season not continuing,’ he said.

‘It’s pretty clear to me there’s a majority feeling amongst the clubs, if it’s not done as a grant, how can we be expected to repay loans over this next year or two when the income is going to be so squeezed?

‘I don’t think anyone is up for taking money then having to repay it.

‘Supporters aren’t going to be in until maybe April, if we’re lucky April, we’re definitely looking at January, February and March (for grant money).

‘They’ve got to confirm it, but if they don’t I worry whether the thing might grind to a halt.

‘We certainly haven’t got money hanging around to pay a wage bill where we have got zero income coming into the football club.’