The FA has announced results for the 2019/20 season will be expunged for non-league divisions below the National League and National Leagues North and South.

That means any football from Southern League Premier South levels and below is effectively null and void, and will start over for the 2020-21 campaign.

The situation will end any lingering promotion and relegation battles as authorities chose against doing so on a points-per-game basis.

The PPG method has been used in the past, notably when deciding which play-off winners were to be promoted from step four last season – which effectively left some showpiece finals worthless.

The FA will continue to assist and support the National League - just below Sky Bet League Two - as well as the National League South and National League North, to determine the outcome of their 2019/20 seasons as quickly as possible.

A statement from the FA read: “We have been working collaboratively with the National League System (NLS), the women’s football pyramid and the wider grassroots game since the outbreak of COVID-19 on how to conclude the 2019-20 season in the most appropriate way possible.

“These are challenging circumstances for English football and all decisions taken are in the best interests of the game and in consultation across key stakeholders.

“Our primary concern will always be for the safety and welfare of clubs, players, staff, officials, volunteers and supporters during this unprecedented time.

“Today’s steps take into account the financial impact during this uncertain period, whilst considering the fairest method on how the sporting outcomes for the season will be decided with the integrity of the leagues in mind.”

It continued: “The NLS and the women’s football pyramid were able to build a consensus amongst their leagues and, where possible, aimed to create a consistent approach across all leagues, whilst taking into account the unique characteristics of each individual league.

“As a result, The FA and NLS steps three to six have reached a consensus that their 2019-20 season will now be brought to an end, and all results will be expunged.

“This will mean no promotion or relegation of clubs between NLS steps three to six, and no promotion to NLS step two.

“These decisions will also apply to the leagues and clubs who play at NLS step seven.”

The move also means the planned restructuring of the non-league pyramid for next season - which would have introduced an eighth division at step four - is on hold for a year.

That would have seen additional clubs flowing up from the likes of the Hellenic and Western League divisions, with some promotions and relegations again using PPG for decision-making.