Coronavirus

[Ellis]

Ollie Holt posted that its estimated 13-11 in the NL to start the season behind closed doors, however the NL feel it isn't a big enough majority.

If that's true, there will be chaos with those 13 clubs. Not quite sure how a majority vote could be rejected. We all know the NL is an amateur league run by amateurs with the veneer of being an 'elite' league when it suits them.

The NL was very happy to declare itself an elite league when it meant playoffs, it's time for the league and its clubs to act like an elite league and resume football like the other elite leagues have. It should have started in September.

 

[AJS]

Ollie Holt posted that its estimated 13-11 in the NL to start the season behind closed doors, however the NL feel it isn't a big enough majority.

If that's true, there will be chaos with those 13 clubs. Not quite sure how a majority vote could be rejected. We all know the NL is an amateur league run by amateurs with the veneer of being an 'elite' league when it suits them.

The NL was very happy to declare itself an elite league when it meant playoffs, it's time for the league and its clubs to act like an elite league and resume football like the other elite leagues have. It should have started in September.

The 11 clubs not wanting to start are putting themselves at real jeopardy. Where do they think any income is going to come from? For me, it’s live streaming or bust. Can’t see any other way clubs can survive. Clubs will be bust in 6 months time if we don’t start the season

 

[Aberstone]

The 11 clubs not wanting to start are putting themselves at real jeopardy. Where do they think any income is going to come from? For me, it’s live streaming or bust. Can’t see any other way clubs can survive. Clubs will be bust in 6 months time if we don’t start the season

Clubs could be bust in 6 months if we do start the season, it's utter naivety from officials of certain clubs that think the revenue from live streaming will be anywhere near what you'd get on a normal matchday. As an example - those 4,000 Notts County supporters that wouldn't attend an away game are all going to individually pay for a stream? Get real.

I've got no objection with starting the season on the 3rd October and streaming matches (something we've been doing all preseason) but on the proviso that there are funds available to cover the costs lost with having to play matches BCD.

 

[Ellis]

The 11 clubs not wanting to start are putting themselves at real jeopardy. Where do they think any income is going to come from? For me, it’s live streaming or bust. Can’t see any other way clubs can survive. Clubs will be bust in 6 months time if we don’t start the season

The only reason I can see some of these clubs voting not to start with fans is if its the smaller part-time teams who didn't bother putting together a team or have contracts they feel they can rip-up should football be delayed so they can mothball. Even the idea of mothballing isn't a silver bullet as the long term damage will still be felt, and for the smaller teams who have worked so hard to get to this level they are in essence ending all of their hard work. I know from our time in hell, part-time players are only paid during the season - maybe their contracts are written that they only come into play once a season starts. If that's the case, clubs will be free to release them without any cost.

Personally if I was a director of a football club, I would be voting for any option which provides at least some revenue streams rather than zero. I think its becoming abundantly clear that without a bailout for the National League, there will be a lot of clubs going bump this year. Lets see if either the government or groups like the Premier League want to offer the ~£20m.

I think the only way out of this would be if the NLN/S could be reclassified as non-elite to allow crowds back into their stadiums. The NL, which is compromised of a majority of fulltime clubs, to retain its 'elite' status and play behind closed doors with streaming services. It's all a bit embarrassing really that the NL board put all their eggs in one basket hoping we would avoid a second wave so the season could start. If our governing league can't make contingency plans during a global pandemic they don't deserve to be running the show.

 

[Stocky]

Right. Lets just crack on with those of us who do want to play and can get a bit of revenue from streaming. If you don't want to play at all, you may aswell just fold now rather than waiting. Without being cruel, most of them won't be missed.

 

[Ellis]

"We would rather the clubs in the national league premier die than our clubs".

Why couldn't the solution be that the NL Prem starts and the NLN/S is suspended?

 

[AJS]

Clubs could be bust in 6 months if we do start the season, it's utter naivety from officials of certain clubs that think the revenue from live streaming will be anywhere near what you'd get on a normal matchday. As an example - those 4,000 Notts County supporters that wouldn't attend an away game are all going to individually pay for a stream? Get real.

I've got no objection with starting the season on the 3rd October and streaming matches (something we've been doing all preseason) but on the proviso that there are funds available to cover the costs lost with having to play matches BCD.

Yes, I agree streaming alone won’t save clubs. It would still require financial support from elsewhere on top of it. But sitting around doing nothing is just committing suicide. Clubs will be bust within weeks/months. There has to be a compromise. It really needs to be decided at today’s meeting but thats unlikely given how incompetent they are.

 

[#Beebot]

This appears to imply that the talks between the DCMS, EFL, Premier League and NL have resulted in next to no funding for the NL. Are the NL not meant to advocate for their members?

Just drop elite status now, it's ludicrous.

 

[ForzaCounty]

"We would rather the clubs in the national league premier die than our clubs".

Why couldn't the solution be that the NL Prem starts and the NLN/S is suspended?

I like how the answer to the "no caveats attached" question has a caveat attached.

 

[Ellis]

Is there any penalties for 'elite' clubs deciding they can't be arsed with the FA Cup?

I like how the answer to the "no caveats attached" question has a caveat attached.

Haha! I don't understand why they were obsessed with a simple YES or NO answer. Surely if you're conducting polls like that it would be better to have a range of questions:

1. Would you support the season starting behind closed doors with no streaming available? Y/N
2. Would you support the season starting behind closed doors with individual club streaming? Y/N
3. Would you support the season starting behind closed doors with a group (see ifollow) streaming deal? Y/N
4. Would you support the season starting behind closed doors with streaming and promise of a bailout? Y/N

Its not hard. These questions should have been floated as a contingency plan throughout the summer, not because the government has had to cancel their original plans because we're in a feckin' global pandemic.

 

[Minstermen central]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1309100681706569728

Looks like only York team happy for league to continue.
Bad times ahead.

 

[jacobncfc]

Ollie Holt posted that its estimated 13-11 in the NL to start the season behind closed doors, however the NL feel it isn't a big enough majority.

If that's true, there will be chaos with those 13 clubs. Not quite sure how a majority vote could be rejected. We all know the NL is an amateur league run by amateurs with the veneer of being an 'elite' league when it suits them.

The NL was very happy to declare itself an elite league when it meant playoffs, it's time for the league and its clubs to act like an elite league and resume football like the other elite leagues have. It should have started in September.

Some of the implications of not starting would be ridiculous - could players break their contracts, for instance, on the basis that they aren’t being allowed to trade?

The North and South should just decide they’re not elite and get on with it - not having crowds at that level is ridiculous.

 

[Ellis]

If contracts do not start until a football is kicked, why haven't we seen more players fucking off in pre-season to a club who decide they can pay them significantly more money or offer them a contract starting in pre-season?

Can't imagine the PFA will like this.

 

[#Beebot]

Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston MP says the decision on elite/non-elite, and therefore fans, rests with the FA.

Over to them (and the NL). Although it's been over to them for months and they haven't done anything so doubt anything will happen now.

The NL needs dismantling tbh. They're incompetent and don't do anything. Why are they wasting time having opinion polls at this point?

 

[#Beebot]

The solution is pretty obvious. NL elite, NLN/NLS non-elite.

Ball in NL's court now but they'll just dither and then arrange a meeting for Monday.

If the FA had any common sense they'd also threaten the NL clubs with expulsion from this season's Cup and Trophy given that the draw for the former is imminent.

 

[jacobncfc]

Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston MP says the decision on elite/non-elite, and therefore fans, rests with the FA.

Over to them (and the NL). Although it's been over to them for months and they haven't done anything so doubt anything will happen now.

The NL needs dismantling tbh. They're incompetent and don't do anything. Why are they wasting time having opinion polls at this point?

Looking at it more broadly, it must be a difficult situation to manage - representing the interest of Notts County and Curzon Ashton equally is nigh on impossible. I’m not sure the way the pyramid is structured and the organisations really reflect the reality any more - the obvious breaks are between the Championship and League One, and then the National League and the two feeder leagues.

That said, this situation was obviously likely to happen months ago and a plan should’ve been in place, not just pray that the government lets fans back when it said it would.

 

[ForzaCounty]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1309100681706569728

Looks like only York team happy for league to continue.
Bad times ahead.

There goes Darlo & Chester's applications for the Brotherhood. Shame, shame, shame.

 

[Ellis]

Chester and Darlo confirmed as tiny tinpotters!

 

[Luke Imp]

Ollie Holt posted that its estimated 13-11 in the NL to start the season behind closed doors, however the NL feel it isn't a big enough majority.

If that's true, there will be chaos with those 13 clubs. Not quite sure how a majority vote could be rejected. We all know the NL is an amateur league run by amateurs with the veneer of being an 'elite' league when it suits them.

The NL was very happy to declare itself an elite league when it meant playoffs, it's time for the league and its clubs to act like an elite league and resume football like the other elite leagues have. It should have started in September.

Surely it's stated somewhere what a majority is (I know it probably isn't, but you get my drift...)?

I'm assuming the 13/11 split is a good indication of those Club's whose contracts start at pre-season and ones who start when the season kicks off.

 

[chief]

Let the 13 play with no relegation. NLN and NLS won't happen anyway.

 

[Ellis]

Surely it's stated somewhere what a majority is (I know it probably isn't, but you get my drift...)?

I'm assuming the 13/11 split is a good indication of those Club's whose contracts start at pre-season and ones who start when the season kicks off.

I think the latest NLN statement might clear up Ollie Holt's interpretation. NL teams have 1 vote per club, whereas the NLN/S is 4 votes per league. That would mean even if the 13/11 for split in the NL teams is correct, assumably there will be 8 additional nos from the NLN/S.

Which then begs the question if that materialises - why would the National League board insist that all of the leagues under its remit must start or none at all. It didn't bother the EFL to finish the league 1 and 2 seasons whilst the championship finished the season.

 

[jacobncfc]

How can it be 13/11 anyway, is there still someone kicking about at Macclesfield to have a vote?

 

[Ellis]

How can it be 13/11 anyway, is there still someone kicking about at Macclesfield to have a vote?

Fair point!

 

[Luke Imp]

I think the latest NLN statement might clear up Ollie Holt's interpretation. NL teams have 1 vote per club, whereas the NLN/S is 4 votes per league. That would mean even if the 13/11 for split in the NL teams is correct, assumably there will be 8 additional nos from the NLN/S.

Which then begs the question if that materialises - why would the National League board insist that all of the leagues under its remit must start or none at all. It didn't bother the EFL to finish the league 1 and 2 seasons whilst the championship finished the season.

I assumed the 24 were just the NLP rather than NLN and NLS.

 

[Ellis]

I assumed the 24 were just the NLP rather than NLN and NLS.

Me too, but I wonder if that is where the 'not big enough majority' comes from in his tweet. It's a majority of NL clubs, but not when you consider the collective votes of the NLN/S league

 

[John Still]

Nationals league are meeting this afternoon, outcome due in January,

 

[Minstermen central]

There goes Darlo & Chester's applications for the Brotherhood. Shame, shame, shame.

They aren’t true anyway both let clubs die and reformed.

 

[jacobncfc]

Altrincham are the latest to come out in favour, as long as they can stream their home games. Would’ve had them as a definite for being against as a part time side, so not sure who that 11 is if the figure is true.

 

[BornUnderTheElmslie]

What on earth does "elite" status even mean in the NL FFS? It's non-league football whether the ex league sides like it or not. Drop elite status, allow fans back in. Despite all the cock waving, there is no way any club in the NL can afford to cover their costs without supporters. Assuming streaming services will compensate is nonsense. Do they all have sugar daddies willing to bankroll?

 

[jacobncfc]

What on earth does "elite" status even mean in the NL FFS? It's non-league football whether the ex league sides like it or not. Drop elite status, allow fans back in. Despite all the cock waving, there is no way any club in the NL can afford to cover their costs without supporters. Assuming streaming services will compensate is nonsense. Do they all have sugar daddies willing to bankroll?

Elite is a stupid way of describing it, basically means professional.