THE mind games have started with a decision on the future of the 2019/20 Cymru Leagues season looming large.

Clubs in the top two tiers of the Welsh game - Cymru Premier, Cymru North and Cymru South - met in online meetings on Friday afternoon as the Football Association of Wales’ Andrew Howard gave a presentation described as “informative and well-balanced”.

As a result, all clubs were asked to consider various proposals put forward by the FAW on how to finish the season and submit a preference by midday on Sunday.

The final outcome will, however, not sit with the clubs but the National League Board, who convene on Tuesday, when a decision could finally be made.

Connah’s Quay Nomads are top of the Cymru Premier by four points from The New Saints, who are in danger of losing their eight-year title-winning streak.

Playing the season to a normal conclusion appears an ever diminishing prospect, but exactly how to finalise the standings remains a thorny issue.

A points per game average would see Nomads become the first team since Bangor City in 2010/11 to end Saints’ dominance, while using the table at the end of phase one has also been muted, and would see Ruscoe’s men make it nine titles in a row.

Saints’ chairman Mike Harris believes - publicly at least - that a play-off between Nomads and the men from Park Hall is the fairest way to avoid an “empty championship”.

Harris, copying in Saints’ boss Scott Ruscoe, Nomads’ owner Gary Dewhurst, the Flintshire club’s current assistant manager and former Park Hall manager Craig Harrison and FAW head of competitions Howard, tweeted: “Whatever formula used to determine @CymruLeagues both @the_nomads and @tnsfc finish top depending on which used - to avoid empty championship should there be a winner takes all play off at neutral ground what you think?”

Nomads’ director of football Jay Catton issued this response to Harris’s question.

He tweeted: “Morning Mike, firstly huge respect for yourself and all achieved with TNS. Longevity and consistency been immensely impressive and credit to your ownership and leadership of the club.

“But your notion of going back to split to decide the league is questionable.

“As you know it makes no difference to league positions at all across the twelve clubs, other than yourselves top and us reverting to second with a current four point lead.

“Would you have hand on heart even brought up the idea if it was 12 months prior when Barry were top at split and then would of been crowned league winners? If not then you have to really ask yourself is this the best thing for the league?

“From Friday’s meeting it was clear clubs priorities was completely on players’ safety and the reality is league will need to be drawn to a close.

“The way to do this and finalise with fair conclusion is the same as a number of leagues across Europe and is points per game up to this point. We have full faith in @FAWales in ensuring full sporting merit and morals will be adhered to when decision made next week.”

At the other end of the table, Airbus appear destined to finish in the relegation zone, but whether they would be relegated also remains up in the air.

Both Cymru North and South leaders - Prestatyn and Swansea University - have failed to obtain a domestic licence to compete in the top-tier next term.

Usually, second-placed duo, Flint Town United and Haverfordwest County, would be promoted, but this is not a normal season.

There is even a suggestion the top-flight could be expanded to 14 with no relegation and Flint and Haverfordwest both promoted.