THE Minister for Sport been called in to help resolve the long-running 'will they, won't they?' saga of Barrow AFC getting promotion.

A vote scheduled for today which may have finally brought about an agreed climax to the National League season was likely to be delayed as The Mail went to press - after MPs of lower tier clubs called for clarity from the sports minister.

This came after clubs including York City and Havant and Waterlooville proposed amendments to a draft resolution which had been put before clubs last week.

The National League and FA spoke to clubs on Thursday, outlining plans to end the season with a 'points-per-game' system used to determine final placings. This came after Step 2 clubs (who play in the tier below the Bluebirds) received an email from the league suggesting that their playoffs could not take place as their level is not considered 'elite' sport.

Without Step 2 playoffs, it would mean the top clubs - including Barrow, who were top of the National League when the season was halted due to the coronavirus pandemic, would be promoted in each league, but play-offs would take place at Step 1 with the bottom Step 1 club relegated.

Clubs were told they would be sent the resolution on Friday with a final vote scheduled for Monday. But some clubs then argued that the top two clubs should be promoted from Step 2 if playoffs could not take place.

The MPs for York and Havant then became involved, asking for clarity on whether Step 2 does count as 'elite' sport. The York MP wrote to Oliver Dowden, Secretary of State for Culture, Digital Media and Sport, about the issue, asking for a review so a 'more agreeable resolution' could be found to the season.

Ollie Bayliss, presenter of The Non League Show on the BBC, reported on Saturday that Step 1 and Step 2 playoffs would only happen if four (or more) of the six clubs participate, there would be no sanctions if a club a declines to participate and clubs would pay for their share of coronavirus testing to allow matches to happen.

When asked on twitter what would happen if less than four clubs agreed, Mr Bayliss replied: "Good question, that. Under the current proposal just Barrow would go up which would be tricky for the EFL."

The National League has been waiting to resolve its own seasons until the EFL made a decision on how to curtail theirs, which finally happened last week when League One and Two clubs voted to end the season and decide final league placings by dividing points won by games played.