Moneyfields boss Carter: Why are the Southern League asking clubs for views on whether to null and void another season?

Clubs from across the Trident Leagues - steps three and four - are to be consulted by the FA on how they want campaigns to finish.

But the Southern League board have already released a statement stating that 2020-21 'should cease immediately and be declared null and void'.

Carter insists scrapping this term looks most likely with step three and four leagues unable to restart until after Saturday, March 6 following the government's announcement of a third nationwide lockdown.

But he is bemused as to why clubs are now to be consulted on their opinions over the outcome of the season.

'What they’ve (the Southern League) have put out there ... it’s just a matter of time before they null and void it', admitted Carter.

‘It’s a situation that they’re (the Southern League) not taking control of, which is what they need to do.

'They need to take control of it and say, ‘this is null and void,’ and that be the end of it.

‘Let’s not beat around the bushes and say they’re going to ask you first.

‘They’re in charge of the league so make the decision between the three of them (the Trident Leagues)

‘I think everyone expected that anyway (null and void)

‘Why put a statement out saying you’re going to ask the clubs, but we think it should be this?'

Should the season be scrapped and 'non-elite' football allowed to return around March or April time, Carter is concerned as players could continue to go without competitive action until next August.

He suggested that some cup competitions might be created to fill the time between then and a return for pre-season training.

However, Carter admitted it could cause some problems with players requiring payment for featuring in competitive matches.

‘It just makes me wonder if they do null and void but we’re all back out of lockdown in March what they’re going to do with football then,' he added.

'You’ve got March until you go back to pre-season until the middle of July.

‘The lads all want to play football.

‘I know I said playing in June and July would be lovely to continue playing the season through there, but when do you re-sign players? There has to be a cut-off point.

‘We’ll just have to start pre-season a lot earlier, maybe in March!

‘They could fill (time before pre-season) with cups or something like that.

‘But then you’ve got a situation where clubs have to pay players to play in competitive matches.'