South Shields chairman Geoff Thompson to step up legal challenge against FA

The Mariners were left stunned after the leagues at steps three to seven - including the Northern Premier League - were voided for the entire season.

That denied Shields - who were 12 points clear at the top when the season was halted amid the coronavirus pandemic - a possible promotion and provoked anger from over 150 clubs across the country.

After consulting with a solicitor, the Mariners and a number of other clubs sent a legal letter to their respective leagues querying a number of issues surrounding the decision to void the season.

However, the league’s response has failed to answer the questions posed and left the Mariners supremo ready to consider the next steps in the legal process.

“We have had a reply from our legal letter to the leagues – but their response wasn’t particularly helpful,” explained Thompson.

“They didn’t want to enter into dialogue, their response indicated that they didn’t want to move the debate on, and they didn’t answer the questions we asked.

“We have had further conversations with lawyers, and we have been given further advice.

“We are now at the point of appointing a barrister, a specialist in this field and we are seeking his opinion.

“Once we receive that, we will consider our next steps.”

Thompson is keeping a close eye on the outcome of the latest National League vote to decide the outcome of their season after an announcement last week that clubs at steps one and two of the non-league system had voted overwhelmingly to cancel their outstanding fixtures for the season.

The next step in that process will be a second vote to either decide promotion and relegation issues on a points per game basis, whether to impose them based on current league positions, or to just void the entire season.

Thompson added: “I’ve seen commentary that promotion and relegation could be imposed on clubs and there is talk of Barrow being promoted.

“I applaud their efforts throughout the season, and I wish them well for the future no matter what happens.

“But if it is applicable to Barrow, it is applicable to us and numerous other clubs around the country – some of whom had already gained promotion in their own leagues.

“I have said this consistently, we felt the decision was rushed, we felt there was no discussion, and when you see the steps taken by the National League in consulting with their clubs, we feel the process has been wrong all along.

“We will see what happens over the coming days with the National League and consider our next move from there.”