CONTROVERSY surrounded the Southern League this morning after officials posted a Twitter poll on the fate of the 2020/21 season - then swiftly deleted it.
Echosport has obtained a screen grab of the poll, which attracted 593 votes.
Other users have shared graphics with at least 50 more votes before the Southern League wiped the poll.
The Southern League have since apologised with the below tweet.
The pole I (Steve Whitney) posted titled "what should happen to the season" wasn`t a question from the league itself - it was purely to see what supporters etc., thought. Sorry if you assumed it was a direct question from the League.
— The Southern League (@SouthernLeague1) January 7, 2021
The Southern League's official Twitter account asked "What should happen to 2020/21 season?"
The graphic shows that 48.9 per cent of voters chose to finish the season in its entirety.
Just 30 per cent of respondents preferred teams playing each other once, and the remaining 21.1 per cent elected to end the season immediately using points per game.
The glaring omission to the options is the 'null and void' scenario which saved Dorchester Town from relegation during the first national lockdown due to Covid-19.
It is highly unlikely the Southern League would decide the future of the campaign based on a Twitter poll.
Board members and the 83 clubs in its four divisions would usually vote on the outcome of the season.
Followers of the Southern League have been largely critical of the poll, with some users labelling the vote a "shambles" and telling officials to "get a grip".
Below are some of the comments the poll created, with other users suggesting alternative methods of completing the season.
How can this be tweeted from an official twitter page? Beggars belief. You make the decisions, it’s your league! Some clarity would be good so we know where we stand. A twitter poll with irrelevant people voting isn’t going to solve anything.
— Scott Davies (@scottdavies1988) January 7, 2021
Trying to decide this with a Twitter poll, get a grip @SouthernLeague1 @martyrant - club's futures are at stake and all your doing is putting a Twitter poll up
— Ryan (@ryan_woolnough) January 7, 2021
Your members vote, don’t they? Not Twitter users. 🤦🏼
— Matt Smith (@RustyRoyal) January 7, 2021
Shambles
— James Denton (pen) (@Denton_james) January 7, 2021
Please tell us that this isn't being used to influence your decision... As a League you need to be discussing this with your board and every one of your member clubs. Twitter can not be used to decide or even influence an item of this importance to so many.
— The Boot Room (@the_boot_room) January 7, 2021
Got to be some resolution, even an imperfect resolution beats another null and void
— Richard Jones (@RichJones85) January 7, 2021
Why no option to merge the last two seasons whilst your at it?
— Scott Fitzgibbon (@_F1TZ_) January 7, 2021
SPLIT THE LEAGUES.
— Jimmy Dean (@Jimmy_Dean666) January 7, 2021
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