League duo set out their viewpoints

Longridge Town had been in the promotion battle before their season was expunged

The move, which affected clubs nationally at steps three to seven, has attracted a lot of criticism, not least from those who saw potential trophy or promotion-winning seasons count for nothing.

More than 150 clubs across the country had sent an open letter to the FA, asking it to reconsider the decision, while some MPs had written to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

For its part, the NWCFL published a letter it sent to the FA’s Leagues Committee, in which it said the decision had been taken hastily, without proper consultation, and that the whole process lacked transparency.

“We haven’t joined that list of clubs,” said Garstang director Dave Graham in relation to the open letter sent to the FA.

“What we’ve done instead is go with the line that the league has written a letter and we will support whatever the league decides to do.”

At the time of the league’s suspension of matches, Garstang were 15th in the First Division North, eight points clear of the bottom two and with nine games remaining.

They had the luxury of being unaffected whatever decision was taken.

Graham added: “If it was points per game – which was one of the options – then it wouldn’t have moved our position in the table.

“I think the reserves would have gone down one place so it wouldn’t have affected us at all in terms of relegation or anything like that.”

Longridge Town’s season ended 12 games early with them sixth in the Premier Division, half-a-dozen points off the promotion places but with games in hand.

While there might be disappointment that a possible promotion bid has come to nothing, Town boss Lee Ashcroft is looking at the bigger picture.

“It was inevitable really, wasn’t it?” he said of the decision to end the season.

“I don’t see an end to it at the moment and I don’t know if the people at the top know how long it’s going to last.

“You miss the simple things but football takes a back seat, it’s important everyone listens to what the experts say and that we all stay safe.”