The South West Peninsula League season has been declared null and void, it has been announced.

Following a series of meetings between the Football Association and key figures of non-league football this week, the FA has declared that all results from the 2019/20 season in steps 3 to 6 of the National League System have been expunged.

The FA confirmed that no teams would be promoted to/from or relegated into/from any of the leagues within those steps.

The decision has been made after all football was suspended on March 16 following the coronavirus outbreak.

In a statement, the FA said: "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 added: "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.

"We will continue to assist and support the National League (NLS steps one and two) to determine the outcome of its 2019-20 season as quickly as possible. The planned implementation of the restructure of the NLS will also now be deferred until the start of the 2021-22 season.

"Furthermore, we can now confirm that we have decided that all grassroots football is concluded for the 2019-20 season. This will allow the game to move forward and to commence planning for next season.

"Our County Football Associations (CFAs) will be supporting grassroots leagues over the coming days to determine how they should close out their current competitions."

Impact

This means that despite leading their respective divisions, Truro City, Helston Athletic and Penryn Athletic will remain in the same leagues for another year at least.

Truro City were top of the Southern League Premier South and were well placed for an immediate return to the National League South.

The decision to null and void the season denies Helston a maiden SWPL Premier title, despite the Blues enjoying an unbroken 24-game winning run at the time of the suspension.

That was a record number of consecutive league wins in the SWPL, but that too may well be expunged from history.

Harry Pope's Penryn side were seemingly destined for a return to SWPL football after leading the St Piran League West for almost the entire campaign, but they will now have to wait another year.

All football in England was suspended on March 16 to reduce the spread of coronavirus, but the Football Association felt it was not possible to restart the season after May, and with football unlikely to resume before then, it has decided to end the season with immediate effect.

Cups

While the FA has said that all grassroots football is concluded for the 2019/20 season, the SWPL has confirmed that it intends to play the four remaining ties in the Walter C Parson League Cup in July as part of pre-season.

The Cornwall FA will decide on how to conclude the Cornwall Senior Cup and Cornwall Charity Cup.

Falmouth Town were in the semi-finals of both the Walter C Parson League Cup and Charity Cup, while Helston were in the last four of the latter.

The FA added that it was still seeking to conclude its flagship competitions, namely the Emirates FA Cup, Women’s FA Cup, Buildbase FA Trophy and Buildbase FA Vase.