National League vote on whether to continue

[I am Spartacus]

What happens if the 7 that voted to end the season say they cannot afford to play without entering administration? I am assuming, rightly or wrongly, that you cannot compete in the National League if you are in administration?

If so, do these clubs have a legal claim against the National League?

I am glad that Brian Berwick is at the National League has never held the reins of a well run English FA that is strong enough to fight for all clubs and not a moneyed six. Oh wait...........

A very sorry state of affairs there indeed.

[I am Spartacus]

I still think their season will fold as a number of clubs will refuse to play. Dover have already said they will stop and around 6 others are expected to join them.

The National League won’t even publish the David Bernstein report in funding allocation to the clubs so what chance have the clubs got.

[Tippy Tappy Football]

National League North: Bad news for the top two Gloucester City and AFC Fylde. Good news for the bottom three Guiseley, Alfreton Town and Blyth Spartans. York City are 8th and not happy about the decision. Paul Cox's Kettering Town are 18th but no doubt Coxy was planning his usual good run of wins in the second half of the season.

National League South: Bad news for Dorking who are 5 points clear at the top of the league with a game in hand. Good news for Welling, Slough and Braintree at the bottom.

[Amber Andy]

If they don’t have relegations in their competition they shouldn’t have promotion

I agree, some teams are threatening to furlough their senior players and just play the youngsters. Surely that will lose all credibility of the league. The FA should block any National League clubs being promoted to the EFL.

[Tippy Tappy Football]

If they don’t have relegations in their competition they shouldn’t have promotion

I agree. I think some of the teams near the bottom will now just furlough or release players and play the youth team. They cannot be relegated so they will look to save as much money on wages as possible. It will make the league a farce.

[chip63]

Id really feel for county if they stopped the season now.
I'd feel like playing the laughing policeman all day.


I'm not bitter, it's called karma.

[Stoney]

Can’t see the National League finishing either to be honest, some clubs are a ridiculous amount of games behind in a season that already started late.

I think they will run it as far as they can and then go down the PPG route again.

Is it not an option to extend the season to allow for a little bit of extra time for the games to be played in May?

I've not been keeping tabs on it too much if I'm honest and don't know if that is viable.

[Dan]

Can’t see the National League finishing either to be honest, some clubs are a ridiculous amount of games behind in a season that already started late.

I think they will run it as far as they can and then go down the PPG route again.

Is it not an option to extend the season to allow for a little bit of extra time for the games to be played in May?

I've not been keeping tabs on it too much if I'm honest and don't know if that is viable.

They’re already playing games up until 29th May and that’s before the play offs start.

[Dan]

Paul Cox's Kettering Town are 18th but no doubt Coxy was planning his usual good run of wins in the second half of the season.

I had a chat with Coxy (& John Ramshaw) on Tuesday night. He was really keen for the season to continue but obviously they couldn’t without the finances they were promised. Gutted for him and all the players and staff who will lose jobs now.

[Tippy Tappy Football]

Good news for Barnet and Dover as well.

[Sandy Pate Best Stag]

Good news for Barnet and Dover as well.

Maybe but Dover could still have problems. The chair says they won’t complete anymore fixtures and the league say they will take action. Knowing the conference they could kick them out.

Dover probably need a few more to take a stand.

[Tippy Tappy Football]

"King’s Lynn Town look set to lock the gates at The Walks after next week’s two home matches. The Linnets have been told to carry on playing after National League clubs voted against a proposal to end the season because of the growing financial crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Lynn owner Stephen Cleeve is one of those owners who cannot finance his club without matchday income and so is preparing to shut up shop after the games against Barnet next Tuesday and Weymouth the following Saturday.

“Next week’s games will go ahead because we need to give the league time to sort some things out but after that I can’t see how we can continue,” he said. Even allowing for the income through live streaming of matches, Cleeve will be out of pocket by several thousand pounds for next week alone. “Carrying on is a pointless exercise,” he said.

A mix-up over the source of funding which enabled the season to begin in October has led to the current situation: the first three months of the season went ahead after loans via the National Lottery. Clubs assumed that would be the same for the start of 2021, but the government said an extension of grant aid was never agreed and that clubs would have to take out loans instead.

“Had I known at the start that the grants would have been taken away I would never have agreed to start the season.” said Cleeve. “ Why would I? If the other clubs want to pay my wage bill or give me £50,000 then I will happily play on,” said Cleeve. “Otherwise, having mucked up the smaller clubs they are now in danger of mucking themselves up.”

Dover chairman Jim Parmenter said: “We are clearly very disappointed that the National League seem to be sticking to their guns and applying rules of the competition with no proper awareness or consideration for the exceptional circumstances we find ourselves in It is clear that the agenda is to finish the season at any cost." It is likely that Whites will see further charges being brought as they continue to be unable to fulfil games. Parmenter said “We do have a right to deny charges on a game-by-game basis, but with the cost of a personal hearing for each charge being £150, clearly this is an additional financial burden and limits our options. We will, however, make our submissions in writing, based on our firm belief that the failure of the National League to ensure the promised funding was made available has resulted in us taking the only possible action to avoid insolvency.”

https://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/kings-lyn ... er-7565532?

[MTFCMusings]

Think we’ll see more of this in the coming weeks.