Athletic Article: League One and Two Seasons to be abandoned next week

[shoddycollins]

Will the play offs take place in the National League then? Or we going with 23 in L2 for a season, or 22 and no one promoted from the league below?

I'm sure Barrow will be promoted now, if we're in a situation where you could promote Barrow and still only have 23, and I still feel it's more likely that Conference playoffs won't go ahead. Neil Ardley has actually said he would accept it as necessary if Notts County miss out due to the top two being given automatic promotion.

 

[Chief Rocka]

I'm sure Barrow will be promoted now, if we're in a situation where you could promote Barrow and still only have 23, and I still feel it's more likely that Conference playoffs won't go ahead. Neil Ardley has actually said he would accept it as necessary if Notts County miss out due to the top two being given automatic promotion.

Not a chance of the playoffs going ahead in the hellhole division, Barra and Harrogate thanking their lucky coronavirus shaped stars, Notts to slash all over the league next season whenever that is.

 

[T.A]

Lol Stevenage

 

[Luke Imp]

Will the play offs take place in the National League then? Or we going with 23 in L2 for a season, or 22 and no one promoted from the league below?

I think the NL make the decision of PO's or 2nd place.

chipmunx found something on that the other week I think unless I've dreamt the above up!

EDIT - Just been said in the NL forum that the NL have already voted for the PO's to go ahead.

 

[Indian Dan]

Power is already putting out feelers for a mug or 2 to finance next season - no questions asked (or answered)

 

[Laker]

So much respect in fact that if Cheltenham can't afford to get through the playoffs as I've just been reading or if Power follows through and puts Swindon in admin, Vale should move up a step no?

That tosser ref (doing his first game of the season in fucking March!!!!!!!!!!!!) for us in the last game vs Cheltenham is the reason we miss out by 0.41 points or whatever it is.

Up the Shanahan.

Pah, 0.41 points is a lot. Peterborough are set to miss out on promotion by 0.02 points. You’ve got nothing to complain about in comparison.

 

[AdamStag]

I don’t buy into the argument that sides “miss out”

Yeah it’s tough and sides like port vale have acted with dignity while sides like Peterborough haven’t.

We’re far enough through the season for PPG to hold weight

 

[Si Robin]

So much respect in fact that if Cheltenham can't afford to get through the playoffs as I've just been reading or if Power follows through and puts Swindon in admin, Vale should move up a step no?

That tosser ref (doing his first game of the season in fucking March!!!!!!!!!!!!) for us in the last game vs Cheltenham is the reason we miss out by 0.41 points or whatever it is.

Up the Shanahan.

Who said we can't afford it? Duff's simply said it will eat into next season's budget.

Not only that, but the ref really didn't cost you anything. That one game is not the only reason you missed out. Also, even if one of the two pens you think you should have been given (and I still maintain neither were), where's the guarantee you would have scored them.

 

[Devon_Lad]

Lino at Walsall cost us 4th place on the ridiculous system that is ppg but rather Colchester in the semis than our bogey team Norfampton.

Still think the season should, and will be voided as soon as Sunderland, Peterborough and Stevenage take the efl to court so no biggies. Swindon and Cheltenham probably aint even gunna survive next season, anyway.

 

[Boletus Edulis]

Michael Duff has had his say on the playoffs in our local paper.

https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/sport/football/cheltenham-town-manager-michael-duff-4147120

Players will be returning to training next week in groups of 5 - staggered times to attend, having to arrive in kit, making sure training areas are sufficiently distanced.

He reckons it's going to cost the club £200-300k to play in the playoffs and is more concerned about how this affects us in terms of next season's budget (he also states it's unfair on the other 3 clubs).

He is absolutely correct, it is not financially fair on those four clubs. However, take solace from the games are very unlikely to happen, it just takes a few players/coaches to have it and game over.

 

[Trapdoor]

He is absolutely correct, it is not financially fair on those four clubs. However, take solace from the games are very unlikely to happen, it just takes a few players/coaches to have it and game over.

You realise there aren't any new cases of Corona occurring in London and the South East now and most players have been so well mixed through travelling for work that they are extremely low risk?

 

[Boletus Edulis]

Relegation for Stevenage then

Don’t count your chickens yet. Macclesfield are in a precarious position.

 

[Boletus Edulis]

You realise there aren't any new cases of Corona occurring in London and the South East now and most players have been so well mixed through travelling for work that they are extremely low risk?

Source please? Btw, where are Watford and Brighton? Are Cheltenham and Exeter in the Home Counties?

 

[Laker]

Source please? Btw, where are Watford and Brighton? Are Cheltenham and Exeter in the Home Counties?

https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk

I’d you click on the cases csv, it gives you the total by day by region and county. There were only 34 new cases confirmed in the whole of the England with none in London and South East.

Watford probably get classed as London, Brighton is south east. Cheltenham and Exeter will be south west.

 

[Boletus Edulis]

https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk

I’d you click on the cases csv, it gives you the total by day by region and county. There were only 34 new cases confirmed in the whole of the England with none in London and South East.

Watford probably get classed as London, Brighton is south east. Cheltenham and Exeter will be south west.

Thank you.

 

[Si Robin]

Do you think it might have anything to do with recently telling 11 of your ooc players you can't afford to keep them on?



Oh yes we would have. He was hungry like the wolf.

View attachment 12748

Talk about cropping things to make them sound worse than they are:

https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/sport/football/cheltenham-town-not-position-offer-4147144

Michael Duff says he is currently “not in a position” to offer new deals to Cheltenham Town’s 11 out-of-contract players.

Luke Varney, Will Boyle, Alex Addai, Chris Clements, Conor Thomas, Rhys Lovett, Josh Debayo, Dan Bowry, Archie Brennan, Jonte Smith and Rohan Ince are free agents from June 30.

Duff said: “I don’t know what my budget will be or what division we will be in so I am not in a position to offer people anything.

“I feel for the players as they want to know.

“The two youngsters, Tom Chamberlain and Grant Horton, have been told we would like to offer them contracts but again I haven’t been able to do that.

“It is getting to the point where I want to start speaking to them and other clubs have been able to put lists out already.”

Cambridge, Carlisle, Salford, Scunthorpe, Port Vale and Mansfield are among those to have already announced the release of players - while Colchester moved quickly to announce that four players would not be getting new deals
.
“They could have players in their starting line up for the play-offs knowing they are leaving,” said Duff.

“Our players want to know what’s happening and in an ideal world I know who I want to keep.”

“I’ve seen reports that there will be 1,400 players out of contract in Leagues One and Two but there won’t be 1,400 contracts handed out as clubs will have trimmed squads next season.”

The state of limbo also affects recruitment for next season, although Duff has 10 players under contract - Scott Flinders, Charlie Raglan, Sean Long, Chris Hussey, Ben Tozer, George Lloyd, Alfie May, Ryan Broom, Tahvon Campbell and Reuben Reid.

“We have got ideas of the areas we would like to strengthen but that depends who we keep and who we don’t,” said Duff.

“We have the skeleton of a team already under contract for next season and beyond and that’s what we wanted.

“I wanted continuity and not 15 in and 15 out so it would be about putting meat on the bones.

“But again I don’t know what the budget is or what league we will be in.

“If we go up we will definitely have the smallest budget but we won’t be moaning about it.

“It’s about whether we can cover the costs of the play-offs so three clubs are not handicapped next season.”

Duff feels that this situation will give football an “audit” and that the power in negotiating deals for players may have swung in the club;s direction.

“The power has swung and players will be scrapping for contracts,” he said.
“Before this, the agent would come in and say the player wants X amount and he wants this amount for himself.

“Now there will be a deal, take it or leave it, and if they leave it then someone else will take it.

“Football is getting an audit across the board and the game might be in a better place in two years time.

“Our club is run properly. It is frustrating at times when you want things and don’t get them but we are in a healthier position than some clubs.

“There is trouble ahead for some clubs unless something is done.”

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Talk about cropping things to make them sound worse than they are:

https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/sport/football/cheltenham-town-not-position-offer-4147144

Michael Duff says he is currently “not in a position” to offer new deals to Cheltenham Town’s 11 out-of-contract players.

Luke Varney, Will Boyle, Alex Addai, Chris Clements, Conor Thomas, Rhys Lovett, Josh Debayo, Dan Bowry, Archie Brennan, Jonte Smith and Rohan Ince are free agents from June 30.

Duff said: “I don’t know what my budget will be or what division we will be in so I am not in a position to offer people anything.

“I feel for the players as they want to know.

“The two youngsters, Tom Chamberlain and Grant Horton, have been told we would like to offer them contracts but again I haven’t been able to do that.

“It is getting to the point where I want to start speaking to them and other clubs have been able to put lists out already.”

Cambridge, Carlisle, Salford, Scunthorpe, Port Vale and Mansfield are among those to have already announced the release of players - while Colchester moved quickly to announce that four players would not be getting new deals
.
“They could have players in their starting line up for the play-offs knowing they are leaving,” said Duff.

“Our players want to know what’s happening and in an ideal world I know who I want to keep.”

“I’ve seen reports that there will be 1,400 players out of contract in Leagues One and Two but there won’t be 1,400 contracts handed out as clubs will have trimmed squads next season.”

The state of limbo also affects recruitment for next season, although Duff has 10 players under contract - Scott Flinders, Charlie Raglan, Sean Long, Chris Hussey, Ben Tozer, George Lloyd, Alfie May, Ryan Broom, Tahvon Campbell and Reuben Reid.

“We have got ideas of the areas we would like to strengthen but that depends who we keep and who we don’t,” said Duff.

“We have the skeleton of a team already under contract for next season and beyond and that’s what we wanted.

“I wanted continuity and not 15 in and 15 out so it would be about putting meat on the bones.

“But again I don’t know what the budget is or what league we will be in.

“If we go up we will definitely have the smallest budget but we won’t be moaning about it.

“It’s about whether we can cover the costs of the play-offs so three clubs are not handicapped next season.”

Duff feels that this situation will give football an “audit” and that the power in negotiating deals for players may have swung in the club;s direction.

“The power has swung and players will be scrapping for contracts,” he said.
“Before this, the agent would come in and say the player wants X amount and he wants this amount for himself.

“Now there will be a deal, take it or leave it, and if they leave it then someone else will take it.

“Football is getting an audit across the board and the game might be in a better place in two years time.

“Our club is run properly. It is frustrating at times when you want things and don’t get them but we are in a healthier position than some clubs.

“There is trouble ahead for some clubs unless something is done.”

Nail on the head from Michael Duff. I know we bang on about budgets all the time, but let's be clear, because owners were happy to spunk cash, players have had a great deal due to the wage inflation it's caused. Budgets shouldn't even be massively indifferent at this level, but they are because when one club spends ridiculous amounts, another 12 push the boat out to keep up with the Joneses. And I won't single a club out because most were at it. And it's about time that time was called on it.

The wage inflation is now unsustainable. No L2 player is worth £8000 a week that Towell was on at Salford, no not even half that.

Agents benefiting from owners happy to spunk cash are parasites and hopefully they're the biggest losers out of all of this. Players should pay their own agents anyway.

Players have a choice. Get real and accept a cut in wages, try your luck abroad or find alternative employment. It really is that simple and if the PFA and its players think they can keep their lavish contracts the way they are in a time where the nation is heading for brutal austerity due to an unprecedented pandemic, then they're absolutely delusional.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

On a lighter note, this is absolutely glorious...

 

[Richard Cranium]

 

[Devon_Lad]

View attachment 12755

That's probably the worst 'meme' I've ever seen. Jesus f---ing christ.

 

[Jerry]

https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk

I’d you click on the cases csv, it gives you the total by day by region and county. There were only 34 new cases confirmed in the whole of the England with none in London and South East.

Watford probably get classed as London, Brighton is south east. Cheltenham and Exeter will be south west.

So how does that tie up with the figure further up the page of 2,615 new cases?

 

[valefan16]

Referee didn’t really cost us, we had multiple chances to win against Cheltenham, conceded at the death the game before against Scunthorpe.... not to mention thrown away late equalisers against Mansfield, Orient, Salford off the top of my head and many many dropped points (25 or something from winning positions). Had we had the game management skills we’d have not made the play offs but been going up top three!

Not convinced the play offs will actually happen anyway at this stage, week before we’d be in the play offs etc but we voted for the good of the league and will be in a great position to do it properly next season. Certainly fancy our chances, I’m gutted we didn’t get the chance to finish the season but that’s the pandemic rather than anyone’s fault football wise.

I’d hope Cheltenham win the play offs as I felt they were most likely to challenge the top three with their form. Il be backing them.

 

[Devon_Lad]

So how does that tie up with the figure further up the page of 2,615 new cases?

That's a UK figure....

 

[Devon_Lad]

Referee didn’t really cost us, we had multiple chances to win against Cheltenham, conceded at the death the game before against Scunthorpe.... not to mention thrown away late equalisers against Mansfield, Orient, Salford off the top of my head and many many dropped points (25 or something from winning positions). Had we had the game management skills we’d have not made the play offs but been going up top three!

Not convinced the play offs will actually happen anyway at this stage, week before we’d be in the play offs etc but we voted for the good of the league and will be in a great position to do it properly next season. Certainly fancy our chances, I’m gutted we didn’t get the chance to finish the season but that’s the pandemic rather than anyone’s fault football wise.

A silly analogy. Find me one club that can't give examples of dropped points/ crap refereeing?

Cheers Walsall Lino.

 

[AdamStag]

Referee didn’t really cost us, we had multiple chances to win against Cheltenham, conceded at the death the game before against Scunthorpe.... not to mention thrown away late equalisers against Mansfield, Orient, Salford off the top of my head and many many dropped points (25 or something from winning positions). Had we had the game management skills we’d have not made the play offs but been going up top three!

Not convinced the play offs will actually happen anyway at this stage, week before we’d be in the play offs etc but we voted for the good of the league and will be in a great position to do it properly next season. Certainly fancy our chances, I’m gutted we didn’t get the chance to finish the season but that’s the pandemic rather than anyone’s fault football wise.

I’d hope Cheltenham win the play offs as I felt they were most likely to challenge the top three with their form. Il be backing them.

In fairness your last minute goal at vale park wasn’t a corner in the first place hah.

In general though, from afar the way your owner/chairwoman/whoever she is came across really classy in the way it’s been dealt with by vale and it’s refreshing to see.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

In fairness your last minute goal at vale park wasn’t a corner in the first place hah.

In general though, from afar the way your owner/chairwoman/whoever she is came across really classy in the way it’s been dealt with by vale and it’s refreshing to see.

Meanwhile, in an example of the polar opposite, Darragh is still bleating on about what an injustice it is.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1263555969541234688

Imagine "crying" over not getting a playoff place in the third tier of English football.

 

[valefan16]

In fairness your last minute goal at vale park wasn’t a corner in the first place hah.

In general though, from afar the way your owner/chairwoman/whoever she is came across really classy in the way it’s been dealt with by vale and it’s refreshing to see.

We had three 2-2 draws this season and every one of them had a 90th minute goal, probably the league games evened out in the end. We were dire at VP but should of won at Field Mill when cruising... soon as Maynard got one back though I knew we’d blow it as we crapped ourselves!

 

[valefan16]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1263555969541234688

Imagine "crying" over not getting a playoff place in the third tier of English football.

To be fair I did when Swindon and Hartlepool drew and we missed out in 2003/04!

 

[AdamStag]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1263555969541234688

Imagine "crying" over not getting a playoff place in the third tier of English football.

You don’t.

I cried when my mum died etc, but not over a bloody football game, not even when we were relegated to the conference