Coronavirus and League 2

[Laker]

But are you surprised by the statement? I’d expect them to challenge the decision - they’ve been denied the opportunity to get out of it. It’s beyond the point that they weren’t winning any games at all, Macclesfield would have been relegated under Sol if the season had ended early so Stevenage have every right to feel aggrieved.

 

[Luke Imp]

No I'm not, but it's their Chairman's comments about it only being fair being relegated on the pitch and not off it that are rather ironic. I'm sure he wouldn't have been complaining if Macclesfield had been (and still could be) deducted further points and saving Stevenage despite picking up 11(?) more points than them this season.

If he was that bothered about finishing the season and staying up in a fair way he wouldn't have voted to end it and expecting the EFL to accept a no relegation stance. He's chanced his arm and it might backfire, and again, rather ironically, he's now relying further on off the field decisions, the very decisions he thinks are unfair on deciding a season.

I'd have a little sympathy if he had voted to continue the season but he didn't. You can't moan about a decision when you've directly contributed towards said decision.

 

[chipmunx]

No I'm not, but it's their Chairman's comments about it only being fair being relegated on the pitch and not off it that are rather ironic. I'm sure he wouldn't have been complaining if Macclesfield had been (and still could be) deducted further points and saving Stevenage despite picking up 11(?) more points than them this season.

If he was that bothered about finishing the season and staying up in a fair way he wouldn't have voted to end it and expecting the EFL to accept a no relegation stance. He's chanced his arm and it might backfire.

it might;- the NL wants 3 up 3 down, but getting the EFL teams to go for it might be like getting Turkeys to vote for Christmas... and would Harrogate (or the play off winners?) accept not getting promoted to allow 3 up next season? I think not....

 

[Brox]

It was daft of the EFL to give them any influence over that decision anyway.

It was also daft to give out a points deduction to Macc when we already knew the season was over. Both decisions by the EFL have unnecessarily given Stevenage a sense of injustice when there is none.

That's utter bollocks. Macclesfield broke the rules on numerous ocassions and were punished accordingly. There's nothing unnecessary about it at all. The moment they were given a suspended points deduction and were then charged a second time the deduction was an inevitability. You can't just ignore the rules and charges in place because it's convenient to do so.

Unfortunately this is an awful situation far bigger than football and no solution at this stage will be fair on everyone. If we're relegated so be it, not particularly fair in my view but it is what it is.

 

[Bee sting]

How can it not be fair? Macclesfield have had their punishments and are still above you in the League. They have clearly outplayed you(points wise) on the pitch, and lets face it , you have had a shit season and deserve to be where you are.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

The only sad thing about Bury going bust is that both clubs in the bottom 2 can't go down. Because both deserve to go down for wholly different reasons. And I have nothing against either club, but there would be few complaints if both were to go down as they would've done before relegation was reduced to 1 club.

Macc unfortunately have been dogged by financial problems to an extent where we don't even know if they'll play another game at league level again. They have an awful owner and I feel for their fans. But they had to be punished for going on strike and failing to pay wages as it damages the integrity of the competition for the other clubs.

As for Stevenage, I've never seen a more unprofessional club at Football League level than their current squad this season. The last game we played before lockdown was embarrassing from their point of view. Jogging around gingerly and not giving a toss. 3 wins all season and a horrendous run of successive defeats which would've almost certainly been extended if it wasn't for COVID 19. On a sporting basis, their relegation is very much deserved, hardly unjust and, if Macclesfield are allowed to remain an EFL club, must take place. However, if Macclesfield don't have the finances to compete in the EFL next season, then they must be removed and Stevenage will thus be reprieved.

With May's wages due to be paid this week (and remember furloughed clubs are still topping up the 20%), I wonder if we'll see another "Macc fail to pay wages" headline, because I think that'll be the death knell for Macc in the EFL if they can't even pay the 20%...

 

[valefan16]

It’s a tricky one, taking away a clubs EFL status when not actually mathematically down despite it looking likely that they’d have gone anyway.

Not a fan of Stevenage and their antics by any means but do have some sympathy, this the biggest relegation you can have outside the Premier in terms of what it does status wise.

 

[valefan16]

The only sad thing about Bury going bust is that both clubs in the bottom 2 can't go down. Because both deserve to go down for wholly different reasons. And I have nothing against either club, but there would be few complaints if both were to go down as they would've done before relegation was reduced to 1 club.

Macc unfortunately have been dogged by financial problems to an extent where we don't even know if they'll play another game at league level again. They have an awful owner and I feel for their fans. But they had to be punished for going on strike and failing to pay wages as it damages the integrity of the competition for the other clubs.

As for Stevenage, I've never seen a more unprofessional club at Football League level than their current squad this season. The last game we played before lockdown was embarrassing from their point of view. Jogging around gingerly and not giving a toss. 3 wins all season and a horrendous run of successive defeats which would've almost certainly been extended if it wasn't for COVID 19. On a sporting basis, their relegation is very much deserved, hardly unjust and, if Macclesfield are allowed to remain an EFL club, must take place. However, if Macclesfield don't have the finances to compete in the EFL next season, then they must be removed and Stevenage will thus be reprieved.

With May's wages due to be paid this week (and remember furloughed clubs are still topping up the 20%), I wonder if we'll see another "Macc fail to pay wages" headline, because I think that'll be the death knell for Macc in the EFL if they can't even pay the 20%...

Do clubs have to pay the 20%? I know Vale are for example but obviously many employers in the real world are not.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Do clubs have to pay the 20%? I know Vale are for example but obviously many employers in the real world are not.

Believe most are topping up the 20% (I know we are) due to fear of a potential backlash from that lovely man Gordon Taylor at the PFA.

 

[Brox]

How can it not be fair? Macclesfield have had their punishments and are still above you in the League. They have clearly outplayed you(points wise) on the pitch, and lets face it , you have had a shit season and deserve to be where you are.

If any one side deserves to be relegated then of course it's us but that's not why it's unfair. The season hasn't been completed and we've been relegated when we weren't mathematically down whether you include the deductions or not. How is it fair to relegate any side in any division when they could theoretically stay up?

People can say we would have been relegated anyway and we probably would, but no one can say definitively as it hasn't happened. That's why it's not fair.

It's not fair to relegate Tranmere in the division above or Barnsley in the Championship.

The reality is no solution is fair when you're ending a season without completing the matches.

 

[Bee sting]

If any one side deserves to be relegated then of course it's us but that's not why it's unfair. The season hasn't been completed and we've been relegated when we weren't mathematically down whether you include the deductions or not. How is it fair to relegate any side in any division when they could theoretically stay up?

People can say we would have been relegated anyway and we probably would, but no one can say definitively as it hasn't happened. That's why it's not fair.

It's not fair to relegate Tranmere in the division above or Barnsley in the Championship.

The reality is no solution is fair when you're ending a season without completing the matches.

In that case then it is not fair to promote anybody as no Team has actually won a League or guarenteed a promotion place.

 

[AdamStag]

The decision to vote against relegation was a poor one.

The FL have said they’re advising promotion and relegation and as a consequence Stevenage go down. Oh well.

 

[Brox]

In that case then it is not fair to promote anybody as no Team has actually won a League or guarenteed a promotion place.

I agree with that. No one has earnt promotion or won a league title yet, some were well on the way to doing so but the season was cut short. That leaves the football league, premier league etc in a position where they have to try and find a solution.

As I said in the original post, no one solution will fairly end the season, it can't, unless you play the season out, and with that not being an option you have to try and come up with another solution.

I don't think it's fair to relegate a side that hasn't been relegated but if the best solution has to include relegation then we're the only option no doubt about that.

 

[Indian Dan]

Do clubs have to pay the 20%? I know Vale are for example but obviously many employers in the real world are not.

Don’t forget, the government are not paying 80% of a player’s wages- they’re only paying a maximum of £2500 per month no matter how much they earn.

It’s not unreasonable to say that very few players in L2 only earn £30k a year or £600 per week. Even then a good chunk of wages are made up of appearance money, goals scored bonus etc - obviously all gone with no games being played.

 

[AdamStag]

Don’t forget, the government are not paying 80% of a player’s wages- they’re only paying a maximum of £2500 per month no matter how much they earn.

It’s not unreasonable to say that very few players in L2 only earn £30k a year or £600 per week. Even then a good chunk of wages are made up of appearance money, goals scored bonus etc - obviously all gone with no games being played.

I wonder if there are still players out there who operate on a “pay as you play” deal. That must suck if you can’t play because of reasons outside your control.

What happens then, assume players have insurance etc?

 

[Boletus Edulis]

I have a Argo supporting family member who is a GP. I asked them today about BAME players, and wondered if the fact that BAME people were more susceptible was due to socio-economic factors or physiology. They were very clear that it was physiological. This raises quite a big issue for many athletes. Those trolls giving Troy Deeney stick really need to have a word with themselves. This is why I think the current plans for the PL, championship and play offs for us are simply untenable.

They expect there to be a spike in about two to three weeks time, given that everyone is out and about. i went for a walk this morningand traffic was full of people with boats, jet skis and paddle boards obviously on their way to the beaches.

BTW their real concern was that Covid returns in the winter in the flu season.

 

[Boletus Edulis]

According to Devon Live two Exeter City players have tested positive. Underlines why I don’t think these play offs should/will happen.

PS Devon Life is not related to Devon Lad

 

[Si Robin]

4 at Colchester and 1 at Northampton as well.

Cheltenham had no positive results.

As a result, and for the safety of everyone, I say just promote us and forget the playoffs...

 

[Boletus Edulis]

4 at Colchester and 1 at Northampton as well.

Cheltenham had no positive results.

As a result, and for the safety of everyone, I say just promote us and forget the playoffs...

Paper, scissors, rocks?

 

[Deepcut Cobbler]

4 at Colchester and 1 at Northampton as well.

Cheltenham had no positive results.

As a result, and for the safety of everyone, I say just promote us and forget the playoffs...

Our one is our physio who by appointment has to have contact with the players...our Academy physio has taken over...

 

[Boletus Edulis]

Hallett has said he is putting one more investment in July and then we have to wash our own face. We were on schedule to do this before Covid came along, but this is worrying, and I bet we are in a much better situation than the vast majority of clubs in the bottom two leagues.

 

[Jerry]

Hallett has said he is putting one more investment in July and then we have to wash our own face. We were on schedule to do this before Covid came along, but this is worrying, and I bet we are in a much better situation than the vast majority of clubs in the bottom two leagues.

Surprised by this. I assume that before Covid you would have expected lots of new income streams from the new stand, hence him not needing to put more money in.

Now though I would have thought he would have funded you a little longer as these streams are unlikely to provide much income for a while yet.

 

[Valeite]

If any one side deserves to be relegated then of course it's us but that's not why it's unfair. The season hasn't been completed and we've been relegated when we weren't mathematically down whether you include the deductions or not. How is it fair to relegate any side in any division when they could theoretically stay up?

People can say we would have been relegated anyway and we probably would, but no one can say definitively as it hasn't happened. That's why it's not fair.

It's not fair to relegate Tranmere in the division above or Barnsley in the Championship.

The reality is no solution is fair when you're ending a season without completing the matches.

Look we all know it is not ideal but take a leaf from our chairperson and take it on the chin, you were the worst team in the football league in the portion of the season that we managed to play- end of goodbye and for employing Westley at least good riddance.

 

[Boletus Edulis]

Surprised by this. I assume that before Covid you would have expected lots of new income streams from the new stand, hence him not needing to put more money in.

Now though I would have thought he would have funded you a little longer as these streams are unlikely to provide much income for a while yet.

That is precisely what was happening, but we only had the new stand functioning just over two months, and we are not now getting all the post season hospitality and concerts that were booked. So we were on track to be sustainable, we just stopped before we could have built up enough new cash to actually be so.

He is US based, and his money comes from investment/finance, I wonder if he has taken a big hit.
my point being there are an awful lot of teams worse off, especially as we have no debt other than a small amount to the council.

 

[Brox]

Look we all know it is not ideal but take a leaf from our chairperson and take it on the chin, you were the worst team in the football league in the portion of the season that we managed to play- end of goodbye and for employing Westley at least good riddance.

Look at what I've put in numerous posts, I don't think it's fair to relegate without playing the season out but I accept we've been the worst side and if you have to relegate someone there's no argument for anyone other than ourselves.

That said, I can understand why the club are fighting tooth and nail to try and avoid the drop. The argument we should take a leaf out Vale's book just doesn't wash, whilst we've been fucking awful we still had a chance to survive and the difference between staying in this league and dropping into the national league is huge financially. Funding will be cut and people will lose their jobs so I understand why the club are fighting to try and stay in the league. As honourable a decision was made by your chairperson, she was giving up a chance to have a chance at promotion, you're asking a club to just give up a place in the Football League, hardly comparable.

 

[Conker]

I want Stevenage to go down, but it’s absolutely not fair to send them down when they technically had a chance to stay up.

Same goes for any promotions.

 

[Kenneth E End]

I want Stevenage to go down, but it’s absolutely not fair to send them down when they technically had a chance to stay up.

Same goes for any promotions.

Disagree with promotions, but a team should not be punished in this situation. Relegation is a hammer blow in any division, but down to non-league is virtual oblivion.

 

[Camborne Gills]

How so? You are in the Championship, and Oxford are doing OK in L1. Granted it can be difficult for some to bounce back, but it is possible.

 

[GEORGE]

How so? You are in the Championship, and Oxford are doing OK in L1. Granted it can be difficult for some to bounce back, but it is possible.

We did

 

[Conker]

Disagree with promotions, but a team should not be punished in this situation. Relegation is a hammer blow in any division, but down to non-league is virtual oblivion.

Yeah that’s not enough of a reason to support promotions but not relegation for me personally, we all went in to the competition with the same understanding and that’s not being obliged.

Each to their own!