THE FA Council has officially ratified the decision to void all leagues in Steps 3 to 7 of the National League system, due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Results will be expunged with no promotion or relegation, meaning BetVictor Southern Premier South side Dorchester Town are officially safe from the drop.

Leigh Robinson's Magpies, bottom of the 22 teams, had been 11 points adrift of Yate in the final safe spot in the league, with 10 games left.

In ratifying the FA's directive, the FA Council has ignored the cries of over 150 clubs who had protested the termination of their leagues.

Those teams, including the already promoted Jersey Bulls and Vauxhall Motors, had written to English football's governing body via lawyers in a bid to overturn the outcome.

But their dreams of playing in a higher league have been dashed after the FA released the following statement this evening.

It read: "The FA Council has today ratified the decision to conclude the 2019-20 season across Steps 3-7 of the National League System, Tiers 3 to 7 of the women’s football pyramid and the wider grassroots game.

"Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been working collaboratively with the leagues within the National League System, the Women’s Football Board, the Women’s Football Conference and the wider grassroots game to identify the most appropriate way to conclude the 2019-20 season at each level.

"The request to end the 2019-20 season was taken to the FA Council by the representatives of the relevant committees having been fully supported by the FA Board.

"The FA Council’s vote today was overwhelmingly in favour of ratifying the decision."