After just 90 minutes’ play in the new stadium, York City’s season has been brought to a premature end.
Clubs have voted to declare the 2020/21 campaign ‘null and void’.
It means that the season technically never happened, even though City have played 13 games – and other teams have played as many as 18.
Covid restrictions and financial worries led to the National League calling a vote on the future of the season.
Tonight (Thursday) it declared the results for that vote.
While clubs in the National League voted to continue to play, clubs in the National Leagues North and South voted to end it now.
City wanted to play on.
The decision comes only two days after the team played their first ever fixture at the LNER Community Stadium. It means that the club will next play a competitive match there at the start of next season.
It also means that City won’t get the chance to be promoted until more than two years after they finished the curtailed 2019/20 season top of the league.
Here are the results from the National League votes:
Resolution One
Step One and Two to be split in deciding the outcome of 2020/21 Playing Season. As a Special Resolution, a voting percentage of 75% or higher was required to pass.
National League: (clubs for) 21- (against) 0
National League North: 16-6
National League South: 9-12
Result: Passed
As a result, Resolution Four is disregarded.
Resolution Two (National League only)
The National League 2020/21 Playing Season (Step One) to be declared null and void. A minimum 51% majority was required for Resolution Two to pass.
National League: 7-13
Result: Not Passed
As a result, the National League National Division will continue to operate for the remainder of the season
Resolution Three (National League North and South only)
The National League North and South 2020/21 Playing Season (Step Two) to be declared null and void. A minimum 51% majority was required for Resolution Three to pass.
National League North: 15-7
National League South: 9-12
Result: Passed
Resolution is passed and consequently the season at Step Two is null and void.
Note – There are 2 votes from the National Division that have not yet been cast, however, the outcome of the resolutions cannot be affected by these votes, however they are cast.