Whitehaven and Workington Town will have to look to 2021 to resume their league campaigns.

It was announced by the RFL that the 2020 Super League season is to have no relegation and this year’s Championship and League 1 campaigns will not resume.

Second and third tier clubs will be invited to play in a competition this autumn, which has a £250,000 prize pot but this is optional.

Haven chairman Tom Todd said: “We are satisfied that a decision has been made and we know where we stand.

“Now we can start actively recruiting for next year and we know when we need to bring players in.”

And on the issue of the autumn competition, Mr Todd added: “We will talk as a board on Saturday but if there is still the same regime of testing at training and behind closed doors then it would be a no.”

Workington Town chairman Les Smallwood added that they would also be meeting to discuss proposals.

He said: "We understand there will be a number of questions following this news and we thank everyone for their patience throughout this unprecedented time.

"The Town board will meet urgently to consider and communicate with everyone in due course."

The decisions were announced on Monday evening following a meeting of the RFL board.

“The Betfred Championship and League 1 seasons will not resume in 2020 – this follows the Government announcement last week identifying October as the earliest opportunity for the return of crowds to sport, and the finding of a survey of Betfred Championship and League 1 clubs that a majority in each competition would not support playing matches behind closed doors.

"Again, the issue of protecting the solvency of clubs informed this decision.

"The Betfred Championship and League 1 clubs will be invited to play in a competition this autumn, with a theme of celebrating the sport's 125th anniversary - and with a prize pot of £250,000, thanks in part to financial support from the Betfred Super League clubs.

"Further details of this competition will follow this week - it will be voluntary, and there will be a detailed application process requiring clubs to prove their ability to meet the necessary protocols and medical standards.

"There will be no automatic promotion to the Betfred Super League from this competition."