THE BetVictor Southern League has said that it wants the 2019/20 season to be "terminated immediately", but a final decision depends on the National League - a level above in the Non-League system.

All fixtures, including those of Taunton Town in Premier South, have been postponed for the foreseeable future on the recommendation of the Football Association, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

But it is not known whether the season will be resumed (whenever is safe to do so), declared void or ended with teams promoted/relegated on a points-per-game basis.

The Southern League has released a statement following a series of conference calls with the Isthmian and Northern Premier Leagues (their fellow Step 3/4 leagues in the Non-League pyramid), as well as Step 5/6 clubs.

The statement reads as follows: "The Step 3 and 4 leagues share clubs’ frustration that it is taking so long to determine whether the 2019/20 season is to end now, and if so on what basis.

"To maintain the integrity of our competitions, we ideally need to apply one solution across all of the National League System.

"However, this may not be possible.

"The Southern, Isthmian and Northern Premier Leagues are unanimous in wanting to terminate the 2019-20 season immediately.

"Whether that is done on the basis of determining final placings via average points per game, or the season is declared null and void cannot be decided until the National League decides how it wishes to proceed.

"Right now, the National League’s position is that they wish to be able to resume the 2019-20 season at some point.

"The feeder leagues do not support this because our clubs do not have the financial resources to continue to honour player contracts indefinitely.

"The Southern, Isthmian and Northern Premier Leagues have therefore implemented the process to terminate the season.

"This has to be ratified by FA council, so there may be a short delay as the relevant documentation is submitted, distributed and approved.

"While this process is ongoing, and once the National League has finalised how it wishes to proceed, competition issues can then be decided, together with the implications for promotion and relegation."

The Toolstation Western League - a Step 5/6 league - said yesterday that its view was that "the current season should be abandoned and that no promotions or relegations take place".