Boston United chairman David Newton backs #Promote2 calls from York City and Havant & Waterlooville to protect 'integrity' of National League if play-offs cannot go ahead

Boston United chairman David Newton backed the call to promote two clubs from both the National League North and National League South if play-offs are unable to go ahead.

After Government guidelines branded these divisions 'non elite' this week, the National League put forward proposals that play-offs would be held in the top flight but not their regional divisions, where only the top side in each would be promoted on a points per game basis.

This would also mean only basement side Chorley would be relegated from the National League, instead of the bottom four.

York City and Havant & Waterlooville, who would both finish second in their respective divisions via PPG, put forward amendments requesting the top two from each division go up automatically if play-offs aren't able to be held. Together they have launched a #Promote2 campaign on social media.

"For most of us that was unjust and unfair and probably puts the integrity of the competition in question," Mr Newton told BBC Radio Lincolnshire, speaking of the proposals to promote just one team from both the North and South.

"When you start the season you know two teams will go up. The bottom X number of teams come down.

"They're saying the process to get a second promotion (place) is only by the play-offs. We said we need to amend that rule as they are exceptional circumstances.

"York put forward a proposed change to the rules which we supported and, as far as I'm aware, the bulk of our league supported."

Boston would finish third in the National League North on PPG. This method would see King's Lynn leapfrog leaders York on 2 ppg having played 32 games, with the Minstermen on 1.94 (played 34) and Boston with 1.81 (played 32).

Bizarrely, the play-off option appears to be back on the table. If they were to go ahead then matches would be played at neutral venues with the two sides covering costs of hosting the game, Mr Newton added.

"The first thing is play-offs should happen if at all possible," he continued. "If they can be done safely and every club can afford to do them.

"Failing that then there should be another mechanism. If PPG is being used in deciding the champion it should be the same for second place as far as we're concerned."

National League, North and South clubs will all receive a revised resolution tomorrow (Sunday), although the details are still unknown. Voting will take place on Monday with a decision announced on Tuesday.

While each club in the National League carries one vote each, the North and South divisions have just eight votes to cast between them.

Mr Newton said: "It's something I think is totally unjust and totally unfair.

"When we vote as a league that is classed as four votes, so is the South. Yet the 24 teams in the National League have one vote each.

"When you're looking at this (original) resolution, only Chorley will get relegated. Surely the National League will support that, which affects us more than the National League.

"For me it's all about integrity. It arises regularly and it doesn't sit at all well to me.

"I don't see why we're considered less important than somebody in the National League.

"You get the bizarre situation where, possibly next season, it looks like Chorley will be joining us. This season they have a vote, next season they have an equivalent of a (fifth) of a vote. Why is that?

"Are they a less important team than they are this season? It does need resolving at some point."