Rovers’ Youth Cup hopes remain alive, after the Football Association announced their intention to complete the competition.

Mike Sheron’s side reached the last four with an impressive win over Arsenal to book a semi-final spot against Manchester City.

Manchester United and Chelsea make up the semi-final line-up, Rovers having reached this stage for the second time in four years.

Semi-finals were due to be played before the end of March, but Academy matches have also fallen under the same suspension as first-team fixture.

But the FA announced in a statement: “In respect of The FA Youth Cup, The FA County Youth Cup, The FA Sunday Cup and The FA Inter-League Cup, we are also seeking to complete these competitions if it is feasible to do so.

“We will also continue planning for FA competitions to take place for the 2020-21 season.”

Meanwhile, the FA faces the threat of legal action after taking what has been labelled the "appalling decision" to expunge results for the 2019/20 season for non-league divisions below the National League and National League North and South.

The same applies to women's football below the Women's Super League and Championship, which Rovers Ladies compete in, with no promotion and relegation, while grassroots football has been brought to a close for the season due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The FA's decision is particularly harsh on teams like South Shields, who were 12 points clear at the top of the Northern Premier Division, and chairman Geoff Thompson said the club will seek an appeal or take legal action.

In a message on Twitter, Thompson wrote: "SSFC will be writing to the FA in the strongest possible terms and will seek an appeal or will take legal action.

"Whatever the outcome following this appalling decision the club will continue as before. However, there is no denying this decision has a huge financial impact.

"We have invested heavily this year in a host of areas and the loss of promotion will also affect some of our revenue assumptions for next season."