YORK City feel “strongly that the season should have continued”, the club has said following today's suspension of Step 2 campaigns.

The National League announced on Friday that it will “halt participation” in the North and South divisions for two weeks, effective immediately.

City’s scheduled trip to AFC Telford United tomorrow has been postponed.

A statement on the club’s website reads: “As a club we feel strongly that the season should have continued.

“Of course, we understand that individual clubs must represent their own views and interests. However, we feel disappointed that this view wasn’t shared by the National League board.

“We worked tirelessly last summer to protect the integrity of football and allow our division to come to an honourable conclusion and we find ourselves in a similar position this season.

“We are equally disappointed in the way in which the DCMS (Department of Culture, Media & Sports) funds, made available to compensate the lack of crowds, were distributed by the National League board to member clubs.

“The recent news unfortunately means that our first game at the LNER Community Stadium, scheduled for the end of the month, will also be postponed.

“We will share more information when we receive it.”

Chairman Jason McGill added: “We fought in the summer to change our division’s status to elite sport, which reflected the wishes of the whole football community to carry on playing.

“We find ourselves in a similar position again and need unity across all National League divisions to protect the integrity of football.

“We are an ambitious club who want to be successful and make our supporters proud and we will fight and lobby to continue the season to completion.”