THE Southern, Isthmian and Northern Leagues are "unanimous" in their desire to end the current season now, the former has announced.

All three leagues, plus FA and league officials from each Step 5 and 6 division, were this afternoon engaged in a web meeting to decide the fate of their competitions amid the coronavirus crisis.

If the Southern League is ended immediately, Dorchester Town would finish last of the 22 teams.

The Magpies' fate would then be decided either by 'points per game' or a null and void verdict.

Either outcome would likely be universal across all non-league divisions and generate huge uproar from affected non-league clubs.

According to the Southern League's statement, a decision on how the season ends rests with the National League - their decision in turn impacting National League South side Weymouth.

Following a meeting of Alliance League divisions, the Southern League said: "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.

"Whilst this process is on-going, 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."

Earlier, widespread reports indicated Portland United and Bridport would play no further football this season.

Portland will therefore finish 11th in the Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division and Bridport 19th in the Toolstation Western League Premier Division.

While official confirmation from The FA is yet to come, the Essex Senior League, along with several other leagues, broke the news.

In a statement, it said: "Following on from the pre-arranged Webex meeting today with the FA and our colleagues in step five and six leagues, the FA have confirmed that the season 2019/20 must end immediately.

“The consensus was there is no option of any football being played for the rest of this season due to the coronavirus outbreak.

“Even if the FA were to extend, it wasn't going to be possible to complete remaining games, also subject to being allowed to socialise by May.

“The FA League Committee are to determine the terms of that conclusion which seems at present to be a 50/50 split between points-per-game promotion and relegation or complete null and void of the 2019/20 season.

“That decision is not the League’s to make but the FA Leagues Committee.

“Once a decision is conveyed to the leagues, it will be consistent across the NLS system.

“If null and void is the FA decision there will be no promotion or relegation for 2019/20 season.”