STEVE WATSON has said it is clear how York City would want the season completed if the National League cannot complete its fixtures - but believes that is not where our thoughts should be right now.

The spread of coronavirus has taken its toll on the global sporting calendar, with professional sport in England suspended now until April 30, while the European Championship has been postponed until next year.

Non-league has also been hit. The Northern Counties East League put its competitions on hold later on the same day as the Premier League and EFL made their initial call, while the Northern Premier League and National League waited until the Monday after to announce the same for their competitions.

As it stands, the National League have yet to follow up on their original decision and the seasons for Steps 1 and 2 remain in stasis only until April 3.

What remains unclear across all leagues is how they will be concluded. The Premier League have agreed to push back the cut-off date for the campaign beyond June 1, with clubs unanimous in wanting the season finished properly, but the logistics of this are far from finalised.

This is also a salient question for York, who currently occupy top spot in National League North as they hunt for a return to Step 1 and a first promotion since 2012.

However, though important to Minstermen fans, staff and players, Watson was quick to point out that football exists within a society getting to grips with a pandemic which has, as of Friday, taken more than 150 lives in England.

“Everybody has got different ideas and it’s not for me to say,” Watson said when asked how he thought the season should be completed.

“It’s got nothing to do with me.

“If the season doesn’t finish, it’s obvious what I and every York City fan would want.

“We’ve got to remember people are losing their lives and people are ill.

“We’re in football but that’s where our minds have got to be.

“At this time, us and probably every other club are taking it one day at a time.

“We’re putting plans together with the possibility of them changing.”

If the National League does restart after April 3, York’s first game will be a trip to Brackley Town, whose good recent form has carried them up to third place, behind King’s Lynn Town.

After Altrincham, Brackley have picked up the most points in the division over the last six fixtures, winning three and drawing three.

And that game is what Watson and his players are currently working towards until they hear otherwise.

Flexibility is the watchword, the York boss indicated in terms of the Minstermen’s planning for the rest of the season, as so much is still up in the air, both in sport and in general management of Covid-19.

Watson’s chief concern is that the football only resumes when it is safe to do so.

He said: “We had a good chat (on Wednesday), me, Micky, the physio and Lisa, and we put plans together about how to tackle the next couple of weeks, when it should be Brackley.

“It’s about keeping your mind open.

“They might decide we need to prolong (the suspension period).

“We’ll address it accordingly.

“If we get the green light, we’ll go ahead on the fourth, obviously.

“The main thing is it has to be safe.

“You can’t take chances with people’s health and the health of their families.

“We get advice, the same as everybody else, and I’m lucky to have contacts in football where I can speak to medical advisors from other clubs, take advice and make sure we’re on the right track.”