Neal Ardley: Notts County boss harbours promotion hopes via play-offs

Notts County are hoping to regain their EFL place at the first attempt after being relegated in May 2019

Notts County manager Neal Ardley hopes there is still a chance of winning promotion back to the English Football League via the play-offs.

County are third, three points behind Harrogate and seven off leaders Barrow.

The EFL said on Thursday that clubs will still be promoted and relegated from its three divisions if seasons are ended amid the coronavirus crisis.

With the regular National League season having been ended, Ardley hopes play-offs might still be an option.

"The play-offs would be my first choice," Ardley, whose side were relegated from the Football League for the first time in their history last season, told BBC East Midlands Today.

"You're going to need four weeks of training to go into play-offs so these decisions need to be made.

"They can't just drag it out and and say 'we're not sure'. It's gone on long enough now."

Under normal circumstances, the National League champions and the winners of the six-team play-offs would be promoted to League Two.