Coronavirus

[AdamStag]

Furlough is for financial issues relating to Covid not so Chesterfield can bring in a load of players and get rid of their bad signings off the wage bill.

If they hadn’t made so many new signings including paying fees or they were putting players who were first choice who they simply couldn’t afford onto furlough because otherwise they felt the club’s future was in danger then fair enough but neither of those cases apply. They are using furlough to make signings they can’t afford and try and get promotion - whether it’s against the law or not it’s wrong just like the way the grants were handed out.

You seem surprised by chesterfield and dodgy financial dealings, they go together like a bird in hand.

Chesterfield marketing chief leaves club over fake raffle winner ‘farce’ | Chesterfield | The Guardian

Chesterfield acted after an investigation into a raffle for a place at the club’s training camp was won by a fictitious fan in Surrey

amp.theguardian.com

can’t you remember them doing a raffle and making up a non existent fake winner? lol

or being docked 8/9 points for financial irregularities in the early 2000s.

even being chucked out of the fa cup for fielding an ineligible player this season shows the level of incompetence.

Getting grants then using furlough is low even by their standards. if they’re struggling for players we can chuck them a few youth team players if it’s that bad down there

 

[CFC91]

Surely people would know if they had first team players who weren't involved, weren't training etc, I know we haven't done it.

Chesterfield have a squad of 35 players dont they? I'm not sure anyone elses is anywhere near as big. Maybe Notts County?

We’ve got 28 I think. But 4 or 5 were out on loan in the NLN so 23/24 is our squad side with a couple of long term injuries in there so we’ve got 21/22 to pick from which given 5 subs is probably a couple too many (we’ve still got 4 keepers on books amongst that despite never naming one on bench).

 

[Stringy]

Putting playing staff on furlough while employing more playing staff sounds extremely dubious to me. Sounds a bit like fraud.

 

[CFC91]

Well, I suppose we’ll what happens if the NLN comes back..

May also have been a good idea to try and explain this in your statement, if it’s true, rather than basically just saying ‘we’ve furloughed the players our manager doesn’t want any more’.

Very true. If those 4/5 who’ve been out on loan and since returned aren’t on the furlough list it becomes probably a different matter. I expect the list to be out early this week. Look for the names Butterfield, McKay, Rawson, Sharman - and not the name Boden and Smith.
I think Buchanan will be on it as we had agreed to cancel his contract so he could sign a deal in the NLN, but the club pulled out last minute when the league was suspended and I don’t think we wanted to release him with a small payoff and then have no income for the foreseeable, which I also see is fair enough.

 

[CFC91]

Putting playing staff on furlough while employing more playing staff sounds extremely dubious to me. Sounds a bit like fraud.

Nobody is on furlough yet and we’ve not signed anyone whilst they have been on furlough, yet

 

[CFC91]

You seem surprised by chesterfield and dodgy financial dealings, they go together like a bird in hand.

Chesterfield marketing chief leaves club over fake raffle winner ‘farce’ | Chesterfield | The Guardian

Chesterfield acted after an investigation into a raffle for a place at the club’s training camp was won by a fictitious fan in Surrey

amp.theguardian.com

can’t you remember them doing a raffle and making up a non existent fake winner? lol

or being docked 8/9 points for financial irregularities in the early 2000s.

even being chucked out of the fa cup for fielding an ineligible player this season shows the level of incompetence.

Getting grants then using furlough is low even by their standards. if they’re struggling for players we can chuck them a few youth team players if it’s that bad down there

Get your facts right, we’ve been turfed out the FA cup twice for fielding ineligible players

 

[AdamStag]

Get your facts right, we’ve been turfed out the FA cup twice for fielding ineligible players

Ha.

In fairness though the way the owners have treated the club and your fans are a scandal, surprised you’ve not burnt them at the stake in the town centre.

 

[CFC91]

Ha.

In fairness though the way the owners have treated the club and your fans are a scandal, surprised you’ve not burnt them at the stake in the town centre.

We do have new owners now we can’t default back to blaming Dave Allen and his cronies.

I do think their is an end game here, we wouldn’t have just come out and said this for the crack knowing it would stir up the natives in outposts like Stockport and Darlington.

The season ending vote is this week, the pressure on the DCMS and the NL is being ramped up and I think we are playing a game here to try and force the hands of those in charge to distribute the grants properly and fairly which they failed to do last time (and the investigation is still ongoing into this), but also ensure that clubs can finish the season this time around - or all the public money given at the start to get the season up and running without fans will have been wasted.

Some very out of context knee jerk reactions on this thread that don’t see what could well be a bigger picture play

‘bUt ThEy SiGnEd SoMe PlAyErS’ isn’t really what all this is about

 

[OneDecentLester]

You seem surprised by chesterfield and dodgy financial dealings, they go together like a bird in hand.

Chesterfield marketing chief leaves club over fake raffle winner ‘farce’ | Chesterfield | The Guardian

Chesterfield acted after an investigation into a raffle for a place at the club’s training camp was won by a fictitious fan in Surrey

amp.theguardian.com

can’t you remember them doing a raffle and making up a non existent fake winner? lol

or being docked 8/9 points for financial irregularities in the early 2000s.

even being chucked out of the fa cup for fielding an ineligible player this season shows the level of incompetence.

Getting grants then using furlough is low even by their standards. if they’re struggling for players we can chuck them a few youth team players if it’s that bad down there

Wait... why are you wasting time talking about us on here?

Haven’t you got that huge 270 + page long thread on your forum that’s specially designated for all things Chesterfield FC? Maybe you should get back to that and post that exact message on there, I’m sure your fellow staglets will enjoy and appreciate that one much more than anyone on here will...

Feel sorry for you lot I really do, 3 years of us floating around in the Abyss of non league and STILL just as obsessed as ever

 

[EnglishRed]

We’ve got 28 I think. But 4 or 5 were out on loan in the NLN so 23/24 is our squad side with a couple of long term injuries in there so we’ve got 21/22 to pick from which given 5 subs is probably a couple too many (we’ve still got 4 keepers on books amongst that despite never naming one on bench).

A lot smaller than I'd read in that case.

 

[AdamStag]

Wait... why are you wasting time talking about us on here?

Haven’t you got that huge 270 + page long thread on your forum that’s specially designated for all things Chesterfield FC? Maybe you should get back to that and post that exact message on there, I’m sure your fellow staglets will enjoy and appreciate that one much more than anyone on here will...

Feel sorry for you lot I really do, 3 years of us floating around in the Abyss of non league and STILL just as obsessed as ever

You mean a 270 page thread basically just taking the piss out of you? Given how much ammo our little blue neighbours have provided the last few years i’m surprised it’s not more!

 

[AdamStag]

We do have new owners now we can’t default back to blaming Dave Allen and his cronies.

I do think their is an end game here, we wouldn’t have just come out and said this for the crack knowing it would stir up the natives in outposts like Stockport and Darlington.

The season ending vote is this week, the pressure on the DCMS and the NL is being ramped up and I think we are playing a game here to try and force the hands of those in charge to distribute the grants properly and fairly which they failed to do last time (and the investigation is still ongoing into this), but also ensure that clubs can finish the season this time around - or all the public money given at the start to get the season up and running without fans will have been wasted.

Some very out of context knee jerk reactions on this thread that don’t see what could well be a bigger picture play

‘bUt ThEy SiGnEd SoMe PlAyErS’ isn’t really what all this is about

What do you see as the larger picture then? I’m personally surprised the conference is still going, but as you point out if that happens all that money at the beginning through grants is wasted.

It’s incredibly tough for all concerned and will probably reset football in league 1 and below forever.

 

[OneDecentLester]

You mean a 270 page thread basically just taking the piss out of you? Given how much ammo our little blue neighbours have provided the last few years i’m surprised it’s not more!

Hahaha really? Well, I seem to remember when you boys were struggling down here we were onto bigger things winning leagues and visiting Wembley (and winning there) so we never had time to waste discussing our little yellow friends across the M1 on a 270+ page thread so forgive me for failing to understand... But then again I suppose your constant underachievement in league 2 despite throwing £££’s at it year in year out isn’t quite as interesting to talk about so I’ll try emphasise with you on that one...

See you soon... and you never know, might be sooner than you think

 

[OneDecentLester]

A lot smaller than I'd read in that case.

Huge shocker that what you’d read from the ever reliable Clem Fandango was incorrect

 

[AdamStag]

Hahaha really? Well, I seem to remember when you boys were struggling down here we were onto bigger things winning leagues and visiting Wembley (and winning there) so we never had time to waste discussing our little yellow friends across the M1 on a 270+ page thread so forgive me for failing to understand... But then again I suppose your constant underachievement in league 2 despite throwing £££’s at it year in year out isn’t quite as interesting to talk about so I’ll try emphasise with you on that one...

See you soon... and you never know, might be sooner than you think

I admire your effort at trying to deflect our amusement at your failure, if chesterfield were a dog you’d have been shot by now.

We remember the delight that chesterfield fans had having a mansfield down party and saying we’ll never play you again and sides like us won’t ever be in the conference again.

So yeah, in a way we do take a closer look than you did. Every day you spend in non-league, every time you lose to a side we’ve never heard of we sit back with a smile on our faces thinking, be careful what you wish for.

And boy, it’s sweet.

Enjoy that titanic fixture with kings lynn town on tuesday haha.

 

[Clem Fandango]

Huge shocker that what you’d read from the ever reliable Clem Fandango was incorrect

Rent free buddy, rent free

 

[rudebwoyben]

Rent free buddy, rent free

He’s not hearing you Clem.

 

[CFC91]

What do you see as the larger picture then? I’m personally surprised the conference is still going, but as you point out if that happens all that money at the beginning through grants is wasted.

It’s incredibly tough for all concerned and will probably reset football in league 1 and below forever.

I just think we are trying to force the hand with regards to funding and the vote to end the season so that the correct funding is given in the right way, and that clubs are allowed to finish the season, at this level at least.

By threatening to start furlough players it at least highlights that it’s going to cost the government more in the long run if they don’t support clubs than it would to offer grants that are needed. I think I read the cost of furlough was c£14m for NL, as opposed to £11m in grants. Obviously it’s better for everyone to play on, but the DCMS aren’t playing ball so we’re sticking two fingers up to them and saying ‘we’ll get some money regardless off you then and this is how’.

I don’t believe we’ve gone public just to be open and transparent. Will be an ulterior motive that becomes apparent in the coming week.

 

[CFC91]

A lot smaller than I'd read in that case.

I’ve just tried to work it out and got 28 including the 4 back with us post NLN suspension. 3 of those we have on loan from FL clubs.
It’s been like a revolving door so hard to keep track of

 

[ForzaCounty]

I just think we are trying to force the hand with regards to funding and the vote to end the season so that the correct funding is given in the right way, and that clubs are allowed to finish the season, at this level at least.

By threatening to start furlough players it at least highlights that it’s going to cost the government more in the long run if they don’t support clubs than it would to offer grants that are needed. I think I read the cost of furlough was c£14m for NL, as opposed to £11m in grants. Obviously it’s better for everyone to play on, but the DCMS aren’t playing ball so we’re sticking two fingers up to them and saying ‘we’ll get some money regardless off you then and this is how’.

I don’t believe we’ve gone public just to be open and transparent. Will be an ulterior motive that becomes apparent in the coming week.

You see? It's not fraud, it's altruism.

I expect your medal is in the post

 

[spireite]

It's a bit ropey this. There's got to be something behind the whole going public thing though. It's like going on Twitter to boast about that house you robbed. Doesn't make sense.

 

[Stoney Ground]

I just think we are trying to force the hand with regards to funding and the vote to end the season so that the correct funding is given in the right way, and that clubs are allowed to finish the season, at this level at least.

By threatening to start furlough players it at least highlights that it’s going to cost the government more in the long run if they don’t support clubs than it would to offer grants that are needed. I think I read the cost of furlough was c£14m for NL, as opposed to £11m in grants. Obviously it’s better for everyone to play on, but the DCMS aren’t playing ball so we’re sticking two fingers up to them and saying ‘we’ll get some money regardless off you then and this is how’.

I don’t believe we’ve gone public just to be open and transparent. Will be an ulterior motive that becomes apparent in the coming week.

Could back fire and they could look at things closely and refuse to pay furlough money, certainly on relation to giving contracts and then furloughping present staff.

They may well ask why you are furloughing your staff, yet employing FL players on loan. surely to protect the business you send the loan players back first.

 

[CFC91]

You see? It's not fraud, it's altruism.

I expect your medal is in the pos

Calling fraud when no rules broken is an interesting take give you that.
Quite a random hill to choose too die on.

 

[CFC91]

Could back fire and they could look at things closely and refuse to pay furlough money, certainly on relation to giving contracts and then furloughping present staff.

They may well ask why you are furloughing your staff, yet employing FL players on loan. surely to protect the business you send the loan players back first.

It could very well backfire and who knows

Note the shadow Sports Minister on the radio refused to criticise our approach this afternoon.

 

[Stringy]

Nobody is on furlough yet and we’ve not signed anyone whilst they have been on furlough, yet

Didn't you recently get a new manager who signed a GK and a striker?

The latest employer guidance states that employees can be furloughed if you “cannot maintain your workforce because your operations have been affected by coronavirus”. The latest employee guidance refers to employers using the furlough scheme if “they are unable to operate or have no work for you to do because of coronavirus”.

Surely it has to be argued that you could have maintained your workforce. If you were considering furlough and you also had a recruitment ban then there would likely be no questions.

If you have trimmed your overall playing budget then it might be justifiable? Suppose you can't blame your board for being creative.

 

[Raymondo316]

In the National South we have a fair few teams who don't want to continue, some saying they need extra time to think things over, some saying they want to play and in the case of Dorking, they are threatening legal action if the season is cancelled.

This whole thing is turning into a complete farce.

 

[#Beebot]

In the National South we have a fair few teams who don't want to continue, some saying they need extra time to think things over, some saying they want to play and in the case of Dorking, they are threatening legal action if the season is cancelled.

This whole thing is turning into a complete farce.

It looks like game over for step 2, the South seems pretty divided but there is almost total consensus in the North to terminate the season.

Legal action is futile as the NL is a private organisation that can largely do what it likes.

 

[CFC91]

Didn't you recently get a new manager who signed a GK and a striker?

The latest employer guidance states that employees can be furloughed if you “cannot maintain your workforce because your operations have been affected by coronavirus”. The latest employee guidance refers to employers using the furlough scheme if “they are unable to operate or have no work for you to do because of coronavirus”.

Surely it has to be argued that you could have maintained your workforce. If you were considering furlough and you also had a recruitment ban then there would likely be no questions.

If you have trimmed your overall playing budget then it might be justifiable? Suppose you can't blame your board for being creative.

We’ve signed a few, shipped a few out and have made attempts to trim the wage bill but probably have been stumped by the suspension of Step 2 as most of the players we wanted off our books would be heading there. We’d got 4 out on loan in NLN who have since returned so I suspect they’re nailed on the be furloughed as they definitely won’t be needed in our squad.

It’s creative that’s one way of putting it, and I’ve absolutely no idea if we will be allowed to do it, though our CEO says others are doing it already so it looks like it’s acceptable.

 

[DontBringBertie]

It looks like game over for step 2, the South seems pretty divided but there is almost total consensus in the North to terminate the season.

Legal action is futile as the NL is a private organisation that can largely do what it likes.

Good news for you then.

Although it means half the league has nothing to play for if there was no relegation...

 

[jacobncfc]

Would it be an option for step two to come back in, say, April or May to play the ten or so games needed for everyone to have played each other once? Obviously not ideal, but would require far less funding and potentially even allow for some fans if things go well, while keeping some kind of integrity to the league structure with promotion and relegation.