STEVENAGE chairman Phil Wallace says they will continue to battle against their "artificial" relegation – and believes Lennie Lawrence help the club's recovery, whether in League Two or the National League, writes Chris Kirwan.

Boro look doomed for the drop after a disciplinary panel docked Macclesfield two points for late payment of wages on Friday.

That meant that Stevenage remained a point adrift at the bottom of League Two, which was ended early because of the coronavirus crisis.

"Is it over? No, it's most definitely not," said Wallace, who will meet with the club's legal advisors this week.

South Wales Argus:

"I have to be honest and admit we have a huge financial hurdle to overcome when we get back playing, no matter which league we are in," he continued.

"It will just be a much bigger hurdle with relegation. We will continue to fight, but if we are relegated by artificial means, then it won't be for the want of trying to ensure fair play and sporting integrity.

"However, if relegation happens then we will take our place in the National League and focus on being an exemplary member of that League, whilst trying to regain our EFL status.

"I have lost all the sleep I am going to lose over a forced, artificial relegation and I am now focused on the fact that I had 10 good years in the Conference (now National League) so I have absolutely no problem embracing that again."

Stevenage will continue to be led by manager Alex Revell and the 36-year-old former Cardiff striker will now have Lawrence as a sounding board.

South Wales Argus:

The 72-year-old has left Newport County AFC after providing guidance for Michael Flynn, when he helped the club miraculously escape relegation in 2017, reach last year's League Two play-off final and perform heroics in the FA Cup to boost the coffers.

Wallace hopes Lawrence will be just as valuable in Hertfordshire as he was in south Wales.

"Out of all these negatives has come one good thing I didn't foresee - Alex Revell," he said. "Rarely have I seen a young man grow and evolve before my eyes so quickly.

"With 20 years as a pro he obviously knows how the game works and he knows a lot of football people in key positions in the game, but I didn't see the qualities less than a year ago that I am seeing in him now.

"But one aspect of managing that Alex couldn't possibly have – experience – is obviously missing, so we were delighted to secure the services of Lennie Lawrence to join the management team and act as a mentor and adviser to Alex, whilst providing 'seen it all before' experience to our team day-to-day."