AFC Fylde chief rejects points per game as a way of deciding league positions

The possible solution has been mooted as a way of deciding league placings if the league is unable to be completed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

As it stands, the National League has been suspended indefinitely but no decision has been made on when or how the season will resume and, if it doesn’t, how it will decide on promotion and relegation.

Were the points-per-game average to be used, AFC Fylde would find themselves relegated to the National League North.

“I think it’s a very difficult one,” Haythornthwaite told The Gazette.

“On the one hand, it’s an easy one and there’s a lot of logic in it, but I don’t think it reflects what can truly happen when there’s nine games left.

“We know there’s a lot of teams in the past who have gone on a run, Blackpool have famously done it both ways.

“There was that famous season when they got relegated on the last day at Leyton Orient despite previously looking comfortable.

“At the same time, when they went up to the Premier League, they went on a massive winning streak.

“It’s very difficult to complete it on points per game.

“My view, and I’ve got to be careful because everyone will accuse me of bias, but I think the season should finish and it should be declared null and void and it should start again with no relegation and no promotion.

“That’s the only real fair way to do it because so many combinations of results could have happened.

“But I can’t think selfishly about this football club, I’ve got to think about the rest of the country and people’s livelihoods.

“While there is still indecision, we can’t do that.”

Discussions over how to end the season if it proves impossible to play on have so far failed to reach an agreement – and Haythornthwaite doesn’t expect there to be any consensus among the clubs either.

He added: “I’ve also suggested, as have a couple of chairmen, that this decision shouldn’t be made by the executive committee – it should be via a meeting of all the National League clubs and have a vote and debate on it.

“I still don’t think we’ll actually need to do that as I don’t think the Premier League will finish their season.

“Unfortunately I don’t think there’s much of a consensus among the owners of the National League clubs.

“All those clubs in and around the promotion places want the season to continue because they’re all dreaming of going up, as we all do.

“I think there’s a lot of diverse opinions around – and perverse opinions around too, if I’m being totally honest.”