IT'S GOT TO BE A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD, FENTON

Boss calling for unison as Shields cruelly miss out

- Mark Carruthers

SOUTH SHIELDS joint boss Graham Fenton reckons the Football Association’s decision to void the 2019-20 season should be rolled out across the football pyramid.

The Mariners were one of the clubs most severely hit by the FA’s announcement on Thursday as their hopes of promotion to the National League North – their fourth in five seasons – were dashed.

After their 5-3 home win against BetVictor NPL Premier Division title rivals FC United, South Shields were sat 12 points clear at the top of the table with nine games of the season remaining.

But any thoughts of money-spinning north-east derbies against neighbours Gateshead and Darlington have been ended by the FA’s decision to declare the season as void.

“To be told we are done, with eight games left, we feel the decision is very harsh,” said Fenton the former Blackburn Rovers and Leicester City striker.

“People will come back by saying that we haven’t won the league and I get that – but based on other teams not getting two points per game, we were confident that we could job done.

“That’s been taken away from us.

“There is public stuff saying we are trying to protect clubs financially – but this has hit us financially.