Defiant Eastbourne Borough boss: Our season is not finished

Danny Bloor insists the season is only on hold - and is not over / Picture: Lydia Redman

The National League South - along with its North counterpart - is suspended, at present for a fortnight, while attempts are made to resolve a dispute over government funding.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport says £11m of funding to cover the next three months is in the form of loans - not the grants the clubs and league expected to be in place.

MPs, clubs, the league and the FA are all lobbying ministers for a rethink. Clubs say the grants were vital in covering lost income through playing behind closed doors and loans are simply not a viable way to proceed.

Meanwhile Bloor remains upbeat about the season continuing.

Borough have a closed-doors friendly on Thursday evening at Priory Lane against QPR under-23s, kick-off 7pm, and the match will be streamed for free via the club's YouTube channel.

"Our season has only paused, not finished," declared Bloor. "The players are bursting to keep up the momentum and we are all hoping to see league fixtures return soon.

"Meanwhile the message to our supporters is - be patient, be safe, and we are missing you as much as you miss us. Look out for each other. I hope many of you will catch up with Thursday's action via the stream!"

At the weekend Borough bosses wrote an open letter to fans saying they were disappointed the National South season had been suspended and were desperate to keep playing and fulfilling their role in the community.