Property developers and the death of non league football clubs

JonH comes home · Grand Slam Champion

RE: Property developers and the death of non league football clubs

JonH comes home · Grand Slam Champion

JonH comes home wrote:
indiana wrote:
I see that the 3 National League divisions' seasons have been suspended indefinitely. Not scrapped yet like the tiers below but they are looking at "how best to conclude" the season and they appear to want to just end the season now somehow. Ongoing legal discussions seem to be the main issue at the moment with already the huge number of complaints in the tiers below.

One issue that would need dealt with even if the EFL and National League were scrapped is that there is a vacancy in the EFL due to Bury's demise. So one would imagine that at least one National League team does need to be promoted for next season ( and I guess in theory at least one team from National League North and South combined ). Barrow appear to think, no doubt correctly, that they are in the box seat either by it being decided that the current leaders are the champions or by being voted in by the EFL.

Jon's Harrogate lie 2nd, 4 points behind Barrow, with both having a theoretical 9 matches left.
Being frank , Barrow would deserve it and if just one team goes up, it should be them, particularly as they lost their place all those years back by being voted out when 4th bottom.
If a 2nd goes up and no more play is possible, I cant see how it wouldn't be Harrogate. Whether harrogate as a town and as football club is ready, I'm not sure, another year would suit me. But lifes too short and if we go up we will embrace it.

Suspect though that efl will resist kicking anyone out unless they go bust over next period, I suspect that might well happen somewhere.

Harrogate still have an artificial pitch and would need to commit to a new business strategy to go up, therefore. Do able but would need a commitment.

The Town isnt a football town by heritage and the fans have averaged maybe 1300 or less this season, I'd like to see more support if we enter the league and post virus, I'm not sure that the fan base would be behind the club as a priority, not that wed be alone in that.

paulisi · Tennis legend

Harrogate's artificial pitch is probably the big stumbling block for the delay.
They wouldn't be allowed into the FL without a natural pitch and there would not be sufficient time to relay the pitch.
On top of that there are plenty of clubs with big money who may take legal action.

Oakland2002 · Grand Slam Champion

Its a great shame that there isnt a ruling that defines exactly what to do in this situation. I understand the frustrations of some clubs but with close to 25% of the season left there is no club that can say they are entitled to anything.

It is not the leagues fault that the season has had to be shut down, to restart it using the commercially viable model that the preceding games were played under ie allowing spectators to attend would cost lives. At present playing behind closed doors would mean (Jack Grealish would have to sober up) would put players at risk. To cancel the season and restructure the leagues with the solvent clubs is a pragmatic way forward. No problem with Barrow going up.

I am convinced god is an ageing white male with a fluffy white beard who lives on a cloud just above Chorley, Bolton may restart the season still in League 1 with no points deduction. I have a certain empathy for the fans and new owners but would be interested to know how the owners who were obviously preparing to start next season in League 2 feel about things.

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Thursday 2nd of April 2020 06:55:09 PM

paulisi · Tennis legend

So virtually all non- league clubs have either furloughed their staff or made them redundant to reduce costs.
Southport have furloughed all staff. Our wage bill should come down to around £1500 a week with this expected to drop once contracts expire.
However with no income coming in and running costs still to be paid, there is still a big pressure on cash flow, especially given that you cannot sell season tickets until the new season is resolved.
I know the club have had quite a lot of donations from supporters to help with the finances

paulisi · Tennis legend

150 clubs now protesting against voiding the non-league season. FA Council meeting delayed, so not ratified.

Oakland2002 · Grand Slam Champion

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 · Grand Slam Champion

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 · Grand Slam Champion

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.