The two clubs relegated from Carlisle United's division have reportedly lodged a proposal against their League Two demise.

Southend chairman Ron Martin says his club along with Grimsby feel it is "unfair" to relegate clubs from the division this season given there is no relegation from the National League.

Both the second-bottom Shrimpers and 24th-placed Mariners failed to survive the drop in the fourth tier in 2020/21 after poor seasons.

But Martin has told the Southend Echo that the proposal will be discussed at the EFL.

He said: "A proposal has been submitted to the English Football League and it will be discussed at next week’s EFL meeting.

"Ultimately it will be spoken about at the AGM on June 10th too.

"Grimsby and us feel that the unusual circumstances of this year should be acknowledged.

"The National League haven’t relegated but they have promoted and the way it’s pitched at the moment it's unfair to relegate clubs from League Two."

"We're looking at the rules."

Martin claimed the proposal had been submitted by Grimsby, with input from Southend.

The Mariners boss Paul Hurst later told BBC Humberside there had been a "thought" to challenge the relegation from some at "boardroom level" at the club.

He added: "It doesn't seem right that a team didn't complete the fixtures [in the National League] and there's no relegation.

"What the consequences are, are for other people to sort out.

"It doesn't seem fair to my mind, but if anything did come of it, and it's a positive, then great."

Grimsby are five points adrift of third-bottom with one game to go, with Southend one point higher.

It was confirmed in March that there would be no relegation from or promotion to the National League  - non-league's top tier - this season.

It followed the move to curtail the sixth-tier National League North and South seasons because of Covid-19.

Teams are still fighting for promotion from the fifth tier, though, with Torquay currently leading the way and the six play-off places currently held by Sutton, Stockport, Hartlepool, Halifax, Wrexham and Bromley.