"I wouldn't rule anything out!" Proposed National League North and South merger league still on the table

Plans for a National League North and South merger league are still on the table.

Anthony Hughes, an FA Council and Alliance Committee representative, believes that governing bodies are 'doing extraordinary things just to get football being played' - and won't rule out a proposed mini league going ahead.

Boston United were among the 18 clubs who launched the Let Us Play campaign after clubs voted to null and void the season.

Teams from the two regional divisions have put forward plans to merge for a one-off league which would include two promotion places, one automatic and another via play-offs.

It is also understood that other clubs who voted to axe the campaign could still be entitled to enter.

"We are in extraordinary times and we are taking extraordinary decisions, so our mantle has always been over the last 12 months that we can't take anything off the table," Mr Hughes told the BBC's Non-League Show.

"That doesn't mean it's going to happen, but I think if you said to me two years ago about this happening I'd have laughed.

"If you said to me now 'could this happen?' then I think its possible.

"We are doing extraordinary things just to get football being played and we are making decisions we never dreamt we would make.

"I wouldn't rule anything out, that's for sure. I suspect the biggest challenge you have is convincing any club from the National League they could be relegated on the basis of a mini league from step two."

The FA Alliance Committee and FA Council would have to give any proposed merger league the green light for it to go ahead.

National League boss Mark Ives has already said he would be open to looking at an 'alternative' solution for clubs.

"In terms of promotion from step one to step two that, in all intents and purposes, is an internal issue for the National League," added Mr Hughes, who reiterated there would be no promotions from steps three and no relegations from step two.

"It doesn't affect any other league, so they could come to an agreement between themselves.

"However, that has to come to the FA Council and I don't know what the reaction to that will be and I genuinely don't know where they're at in terms of the clubs that are interested.

"Nothing has come to us as far as the Alliance Committee is concerned about a proposal."

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