THE MIDLAND Football League has been suspended until December 19, it has just been confirmed.

The announcement concerns the MFL Premier Division, in which Worcester City play.

The FA Vase second-round fixture with Shepshed Dynamo next weekend will go ahead but will be played behind closed doors due to Shepshed being in a tier 3 area of covid restrictions.

The MFL released the following statement:

"The FA held a meeting on Thursday evening, which myself (secretary Nigel Wood) and the Chairman (Michael Joiner) attended, where the proposed restart of competitive football at our level on 2nd December was discussed.

"The FA reiterated that their key object remains to conclude the 20/21 season and achieve promotion and relegation as a result, either by completing all fixtures or rely on a mathematical equation."

"They also reported that at Steps 5 & 6 players/teams can travel between tiers, however for our level of football no spectators are allowed for those clubs situated in tier 3. In addition, we were also informed that clubs in tier 2 cannot open their clubhouses, other than to provide a takeaway service, which must be consumed off the premises ie outside of the ground.

"As you may remember, in June, it was stated that it was not sustainable for member clubs to play matches behind closed doors for an undetermined length of time and that clubs also need the revenue from clubhouses and food sales.

"This view has not changed.

"The full Management Committee met yesterday to discuss the current situation and unanimously agreed that, as the vast majority of clubs in all Divisions have been placed in Tier 3, it is still unsustainable to expect clubs to play without any supporters."