Doncaster Rovers Belles reveal standpoint on how to conclude 2020/21 season

FAWNL Division One Midlands – the fourth tier of the women’s game – falls outside of the ‘elite sport’ umbrella and has therefore been suspended due to the lockdown.

Belles lie second in the 12-team competition, three points behind Wolverhampton Wanderers who have won six games out of six to occupy the single promotion slot.

Boldmere St Michaels and Wem Town have played just four league games.

Chief executive Russ Green has revealed that Belles believe there should be promotion and relegation this season.

Belles are prepared to play into June to resolve the current campaign by playing enough games to reach a PPG threshold.

They would also support a more radical idea to add the results from this season and last season together to form a combined table.

Green said: “The Football Association recently asked our views on how we proceed from here. They gave us options including rendering the campaign null and void, extending the season into the summer or using a points per game formula if a certain number of games have been played.

“We do not envy the position the FA are in as they look to provide a roadmap to finish the season against so many uncertainties which are beyond their control.

“Our feedback to the FA is that we are ready to resume playing as and when we are permitted and would like to complete the season as far as is safely possible to achieve a PPG threshold - even if this means playing games in June. We would like to be allowed up to five substitutes in a match if this happens.

“If this is not possible we have suggested a solution which has also been put forward in the men's game - which is to combine results from last season to create a combined table.

“We're not sure if this is possible given the decision to render last year's results as null and void, but if you look at our division no one would question Wolves' dominance and their right to achieve promotion on the back of it if there is not much football left to be played this season.

“Safety has to guide everything in times like this but we believe a core tenet of the pyramid system is promotion and relegation, and would like to see that allowed to happen - whether or not we do enough in our remaining games to catch the leaders.

“For now we wait to see what the Government says in terms of the national lockdown, which is being reviewed in mid February and will guide what options are available to the FA from then.”