‘I can’t see any other outcome other than null and void’ – Gosport boss Shaun Gale on the 2020/21 Southern League season

The Southern League board - along with the Isthmian League and Northern Premier League - have expressed their desire for the campaign to 'cease immediately and be declared null and void'.

Clubs across the Trident Leagues are now to be consulted by the FA on their thoughts over how the 2020-21 season ends.

All teams from across steps three and four have had their seasons paused since early November amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Now, following on from a third nationwide lockdown, all Southern League matches have been postponed until after Saturday, March 6 at the earliest.

Gale's men have only played seven league games this term.

'It doesn’t surprise me (Southern League’s statement), it’s obviously difficult times for everyone,' the Boro boss declared.

'They’ve suggested that they cancel the season again.

‘We’ve played seven league games, you can’t determine a season after seven league games.

‘I get it’s disappointing for teams who’ve had really good starts, but it is what it is and it’s the current climate we’re in.

‘I don’t want that to happen (null and void) but I can’t see there’s a way forward that you can fit a season in.

'You’d need a couple of weeks to get up and running.

‘It’s impossible, you can’t play three times a week, people can’t do it.

‘The lads go to work, they wouldn’t do it in the Premier League so why do it at our level and you can’t expect them to.

'I can’t see any other outcome (other than null and void) but I need to sit down with the chairman (Iain McInnes) on a Zoom and have a chat about it.'

If a second successive season 'non-elite' season is to be declared null and void, Gale at least hopes clubs might be able to play some sort of competitive football before May.

Current nationwide lockdown restrictions are preventing players below the 'elite' level from playing or training.

However, Gale is optimistic if the government can stop the rise in coronavirus cases clubs could get some kind of action before the summer months.

‘Whether there could be a tournament locally in order to create some revenue for the clubs, because all football clubs at every level are struggling,’ he said.

‘That’s something for the league to decide and put to everyone, we’ll wait and see.

'It's frustrating times but you just have to get on with it.

‘It’s no good moaning about it, there are more important things going on in the country, and people are dying - that’s the sad fact.

‘We need to get this situation sorted so we can move forward.'