Chorley see season scrapped and declared null and void

The outcome of the voting is that non-league football's elite division, the National League, will continue but the tier below it, NL North and NL South, will cease with immediate effect.

As part of the voting, a special resolution was passed allowing the NL North and South clubs to decide their own fate on a one-club-one-vote basis.

Clubs in Chorley's league, NL North, voted by 15 to seven to halt the season.

And although NL South clubs voted to play on (by 12-9), the overall majority of 24-19 means both competitions are scrapped.

National League clubs voted 13-7 to continue their season.

The vote had been called on February 1 with clubs given 28 days to cast their votes.

But with all but two National League clubs having voted, the league decided to announce the results early.

A league statement reads: "The Board will take the resolution outcome to The Football Association for ratification. This will include dialogue regarding promotion and relegation."

Chorley had voted in favour of playing on as they looked to bounce back immediately to the National League.

This year it was made clear from the outset that a vote to stop play would mean the season being declared null and void.

The vote followed a government announcement that any further funding to help clubs complete the season behind closed doors would take the form of loans. Club had received grant aid to cover the first three months of the season.

Many clubs had refused to play matches this month as they awaited the outcome of the vote.

Chorley's match against Brackley Town and Gloucester City were the only games to go-ahead on the two previous Saturday's in the NL North.