CHIPPENHAM Town’s season has been put on hold after the National League joined their higher division counterparts in suspending the football season.

Last Friday the Premier League and EFL halted all football until at least April 3, but National League games carried on at the weekend.

That meant Chippenham’s face-off with table-topping Wealdstone at Hardenhuish Park went ahead.

The game finished 1-1 in front of a boosted crowd of 1,052 in attendance, with the vast majority of the footballing calendar off.

But the National league came in for criticism from fans, players and managers, and have now decided to postpone all competitive action until April 3.

A statement from the league said: “At its Board Meeting on Friday, The National League decided to use its best endeavours to keep its season going in the face of unprecedented adversity

“However, with the current coronavirus (COVID-19) reaching global pandemic levels it has to accept that the situation is now out of its own control.

“In the knowledge of the government measures now announced including not to support sporting events with emergency services workers it is clearly not practical for its fixtures to be fulfilled in the immediate future.

“In those circumstances and in line with The Football Association and the Professional Game, at a Board Meeting today, The National League has decided that its competition is now suspended until at least 3rd April 2020.

“The National League will continue to monitor the situation, but trusts that its loyal clubs, fans, players, officials, staff, volunteers and sponsors will accept that it has had no other choice but to reach this decision.

“It wishes everybody connected with the competition and indeed the whole country a safe passage through these turbulent times.”

The decision means at least Chippenham’s next two matches will be put off.

The Bluebirds had been due to visit Billericay Town in National League South this weekend and host Eastbourne Borough the following Saturday.

The Southern League had already postponed all games up to and including March 21 and the Hellenic League March 31.

The Western League have suspended all games and will review the situation on March 27.