Property developers and the death of non league football clubs

paulisi · Tennis legend

Property developers and the death of non league football clubs

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Unfortunately we will see a number of clubs going to the wall or asking to be relegated. As a consequence there will be adjustments which should probably be done on a points per game basis where necessary. Some clubs will be ready to step up others less so, with negotiation most clubs should be in the correct division next season.

The Corona Virus is absolutely not the fault of the FA, there must be rules that define when matches must be played by and defines what happens when clubs cant fulfil them? Which non can, this probably results in all results of that club being null & void. Ref Greenwich Borough.

paulisi · Tennis legend

The fairest solution is to finish the season on average points, but I suspect it will not be in the league constitution.
In reality the FA have to go by the league rules.

paulisi · Tennis legend

The FA council have now ratified for step 3 downwards to void the season.
The National league are voting to finish the season and then vote on a range of proposals regarding finishing positions. Tier 1 clubs will get a forward advance of 58k and tier 2 16k - money from premier League they would have got anyway.

10 clubs have resigned from their leagues already in the lower leagues.

-- Edited by paulisi on Friday 10th of April 2020 06:03:17 AM

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Big news today, the EFL have overruled the league 2 clubs preference and stated that all EFL divisions should maintain promotion and relegation this season , even if the fixtures cant be completed, using average points per game.

In league two, this would mean Stevenage going down and barrow, already up, being joined by Harrogate. Harrogate have already started preparing by upgrading the ground to meet the 6000 capacity efl requirement with 1000 seats. The work will cost £400k and is happening regardless but the efl provide a grant to cover that cost if the promotion is confirmed.

Not sure when it will become more certain but it looks promising for the Town! Go the Sulphurites!

paulisi · Tennis legend

Harrogate will gave to a lot of work to upgrade their ground and promotion is not guaranteed.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

paulisi wrote:
Harrogate will gave to a lot of work to upgrade their ground and promotion is not guaranteed.

That's what I was saying. It looks positive but they need to do the work without the guarantee. So theyve started and will get the grant if the promotion gets confirmed. If not, they'll have to pay for it in other ways.

400k is the estimated cost to get it to the right level. Its fortunate the owner also owns the building firm, Strada

Getting to be regular top of the national league team has come ahead of target really, promotion wasnt expected this year. If it comes, great, if not then they will just plan and go again. But if theres another team going up, it can only be harrogate really, under any criteria they choose.

-- Edited by JonH comes home on Friday 22nd of May 2020 04:54:27 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

In Scotland, Kelty Hearts and Brora Rangers, effectively the champions of the Lowland and Highland Leagues respectively, are threatening legal action, particularly Kelty.

Normally the Lowland and Highland champions play-off and then the winners of that then play-off against the bottom club in League 2.

The Scottish League clubs voted to end their seasons on a points per game basis and have the normal automatic promotions and relegations within the Scottish League but not to have play-offs, including no relegation play-off from League 2. Think Brechin City ( bottom of League 2 ) supported that!

Kelty say that any play-off changes needed the agreement from 4 parties, the SPFL, the SFA, the Lowland League and the Highland League and are looking for some answers. As it is the Scottish League acted unilaterally, the SFA sermingly didn't have a problem with that, and the Lowland and Highland Leagues weren't consulted.

Brora more for now waiiting to see if temporary league reconstruction talks get anywhere and whether they benefit the Lowland and Highland League champions. But if not then they are in with Kelty.

indiana · Tennis legend

The really big question in Scotland though is how many clubs could go to the wall?

There could be a few vacancies

paulisi · Tennis legend

Most of the smaller Scottish clubs have 1 year player contracts. Most clubs will not renew contracts until there is some clarity for next season.

paulisi · Tennis legend

I see a few non league clubs are starting to sign players which seems risky given there is no start date yet.
Witton have brought 2 in this week. Southport have signed a striker.

As for Southport, they are talking about changing from a season ticket model to a membership model of monthly payments over a 12 month period. It evens out the cash flow issues.
In addition I believe Everton u23's have extended their contract at Southport for another 3 years and the money has gone on repairing the pitch that was newly laid last season.

paulisi · Tennis legend

Sounds like national League is close to sorted.
PPG - so Barrow promoted
Kings Lynn and Wealdstone go up
Chorley relegated only(due to Bury place) - no playoffs in N & S
Playoffs in national League

indiana · Tennis legend

Ah, I finally got it. PPG is points per game. It is a bit early for me.

Harrogate are making out that they are very happy to have the opportunity for promotion through play-offs.

Certainly true if offered it at the start of the season, and still relatively so. But especially after it became clearer that League 2 intended to relegate one club, surely a fair bit of them went darn, as no doubt they were hoping for no play-offs and the top 2 in the National League being promoted on PPG. In their own hands but odds against.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
Ah, I finally got it. PPG is points per game. It is a bit early for me.

Harrogate are making out that they are very happy to have the opportunity for promotion through play-offs.

Certainly true if offered it at the start of the season, and still relatively so. But especially after it became clearer that League 2 intended to relegate one club, surely a fair bit of them went darn, as no doubt they were hoping for no play-offs and the top 2 in the National League being promoted on PPG. In their own hands but odds against.

Town's narrative has always been that they are happy to see play offs, bring it on. Privately, they clearly wanted to go straight up; Town have a good backer and no money worries so not playing again would suit them fine.

However, if truth be told, as you say they would have taken play offs at start of season. Not sure if it will be the 6 team play offs originally envisaged, Town will get a bye if that is the case

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
Ah, I finally got it. PPG is points per game. It is a bit early for me.

Harrogate are making out that they are very happy to have the opportunity for promotion through play-offs.

Certainly true if offered it at the start of the season, and still relatively so. But especially after it became clearer that League 2 intended to relegate one club, surely a fair bit of them went darn, as no doubt they were hoping for no play-offs and the top 2 in the National League being promoted on PPG. In their own hands but odds against.

Article confirming Weaver is happy!

https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/sport/football/happy-harrogate-town-boss-simon-weaver-confident-national-league-play-offs-will-take-place-2882253#gsc.tab=0