Coronavirus

[BornUnderTheElmslie]

If that's true, why would anyone not choose the second option?

Robbing Peter to pay Paul. Money distributed by the NL to clubs in the future would be reduced. But I agree, I think its the only viable option on the table now.

 

[jacobncfc]

Robbing Peter to pay Paul. Money distributed by the NL to clubs in the future would be reduced. But I agree, I think its the only viable option on the table now.

Yeah, it’s kicking the can down the road for a bit, but it seems the most sensible. Clubs not saddling themselves with debt, presumably the central payment cut would be spread over years so can be budgeted for etc.

 

[jacobncfc]

How would the NL take on such a big loan? The main incomes being (I presume) sponsorship, TV (most of which would go to clubs) and a cut of gates from the playoffs... that wouldn't go anywhere near £11m over two decades, let alone one

I wouldn’t be surprised if it was structured a bit like a student loan is. Repayments are a % of income over absolutely ages, maybe written off if not repaid after ten years or something. I suspect that the DCMS main concern is the optics of granting £11m when they’ve got so many different sports and other things asking for money.

 

[#Beebot]

What's the voting structure for this? If it's by division then I can see the NL going it alone with the league taking out the loan and step 2 pausing the season. If it's the NL's usual policy of heavily weighting in favour of the NL, looks like it's the loan.

Option 2 seems most sensible, the prize money from the league isn't that significant is it?

 

[Raymondo316]

With option 2 I can just imagine another shambolic mess by the national league board.

They already fucked up the funding first time around, it will be the same shit all over again with Parmenter and co making sure they get more than they deserve.

 

[Darlofan97]

How would the NL take on such a big loan? The main incomes being (I presume) sponsorship, TV (most of which would go to clubs) and a cut of gates from the playoffs... that wouldn't go anywhere near £11m over two decades, let alone one

League distribution for NLN is £15k per season, per club.

If you cut that to £0 you’ve saved £330k per season x 10 years = £3.3 million.

You do the same for NLS = £6.6 million for NLN & NLS, and that’s before you’ve cut any funding in the National League.

I know my workings are really simplistic, but it does show that this is where the National League will try to cut to save the money & re-pay these loans back.

 

[Darlofan97]

If that's true, why would anyone not choose the second option?

Because do you really want your governing organisation in £10 million+ worth of debt for the sake of 20 more weeks of football? Will any good come of it?

Also, it’ll leave a funding shortfall each season for clubs as the National League will cut funding to re-pay their loan off.

 

[LongEatonPie]

If we do not get a consistent run of games over the 2-3 weeks and teams arrange fixtures and stick to them.
Then it will be option 3. Cancel season.

 

[ForzaCounty]

Suspend, not cancel, surely. Could still finish it by playing each other once

 

[#Beebot]

What are football clubs for if they don't play football?

Option 2.

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Playing with no fans is shit. Having games called off because the fucking bus driver coughed is shit. The lads running the league are shit. Borehamfuckingwood winning the equivalent of the lottery because their chairman is a Tory is shit. Losing 3 home games already is shit.

Cancel the season. It’s shit.

 

[Luke Imp]

People have probably lumped football altogether tbh and called it elite sport.

I mean there will be those who think players at this level get paid thousands a week and live a life of luxury.

The elite v non-elite distinction was always just a bullshit artificial construct by the government anyway. Teams do what they need to do to further their own interests.

Didn't the NL (or just the NLN and NLS) push for the elite sport tag just to get the PO's done? Being elite suited them at that point.

 

[Super_horns]

Maybe !

Not sure tbh .

 

[karlready]

Didn't the NL (or just the NLN and NLS) push for the elite sport tag just to get the PO's done? Being elite suited them at that point.

Yep, exactly that, also useful for furloughing players at the time.
If the Conference agree to the loan option, clubs will accumulate debts that they will never be able to repay. Could also have a huge effect on recruitment of decent players if there are compulsory arranged repayment deductions to National League.
Is it really worth it?

 

[Blue Lion]

Yep, exactly that, also useful for furloughing players at the time.
If the Conference agree to the loan option, clubs will accumulate debts that they will never be able to repay. Could also have a huge effect on recruitment of decent players if there are compulsory arranged repayment deductions to National League.
Is it really worth it?

I wouldn't have thought there would be repayments as such, more like the prize money is reduced for the next few seasons to compensate. And given that hardly anyone will actually be in this division for the next 10 consecutive seasons, it will mostly be a different set of clubs who will have to worry about the reduced funding anyway.

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

You cancel the season you still have to pay the players - people talk about furlough but can you really see the government rolling over and paying that to the clubs? Not a chance they will. Furlough is for people who can’t work but the government has allowed the NL to continue working.

I think what this has shown is the National League shouldn’t really exist. Expand the football league and the glue leagues and have clear divide between elite and not.

 

[LongEatonPie]

Exactly, there needs to be a clear divide between league and non-league not the smudge this is at the moment.

I still believe they will null and void this season if we dont see regular matches for the next 2-3 weeks with non covid postponements. They also have to extend into June.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Havant and W imposing a 10 day isolation on Health and Safety grounds. Surely they should wait for a test

 

[valefan16]

Exactly, there needs to be a clear divide between league and non-league not the smudge this is at the moment.

I still believe they will null and void this season if we dont see regular matches for the next 2-3 weeks with non covid postponements. They also have to extend into June.

It makes sense now to make the National League Premier into an EFL League Three, the size of clubs down there now and the fact the majority are full time. This would then filter in the regional N and S as it does.

With the amount of big clubs for that level now, Stockport, Hartlepool, Notts Co, Chesterfield, Wrexham, Barnet, Yeovil etc it would make sense. Years ago most were part time but how the game has gone and the number of large names it would be a workable option surely.

 

[doveranddover]

Havant and W imposing a 10 day isolation on Health and Safety grounds. Surely they should wait for a test

Slough are refusing to travel to Eastbourne Saturday
Concord have decided not to play either

 

[Atavistic]

Looking at it all from afar, there seems to be very much a distinct cut-off in the size of teams between the National League Premier and the North and South divisions. As this whole situation now seems to be proving, trying to manage clubs of such wildly different sizes under one banner isn't really feasible and was always going to lead to problems eventually; it must be incredibly difficult to sufficiently serve the interests of the likes of Notts County at one end and the likes of Hungerford Town at the other.

It would definitely make much more sense for the National League to become a League 3 and have the North and South as the top of the non-league pyramid.

 

[Darlofan97]

You cancel the season you still have to pay the players - people talk about furlough but can you really see the government rolling over and paying that to the clubs? Not a chance they will. Furlough is for people who can’t work but the government has allowed the NL to continue working.

I think what this has shown is the National League shouldn’t really exist. Expand the football league and the glue leagues and have clear divide between elite and not.

Yes, furloughing players & management will be allowed in-line with the rules of the furlough scheme.

The Government hasn’t allowed the National League to operate from the 31 December, when the last instalment of funding was paid.

You also can’t force a business to take a loan to continue to operate.

The issue here isn’t the structure of the leagues, or the “elite” & “non-elite” tag, it’s the failure of the National League to source funding for its clubs & failure of the DCMS to recognise that funding in the form of loans to clubs directly, or the National League, will have significant consequences.

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Slough are refusing to travel to Eastbourne Saturday
Concord have decided not to play either

And their reasoning is bang on the money. Why would clubs at our level travel the length and breadth of the country to put their players and staff at risk for potentially meaningless games?

 

[Raymondo316]

Slough are refusing to travel to Eastbourne Saturday
Concord have decided not to play either

Tonbridge don't want to continue either

 

[John Still]

It makes sense now to make the National League Premier into an EFL League Three, the size of clubs down there now and the fact the majority are full time. This would then filter in the regional N and S as it does.

With the amount of big clubs for that level now, Stockport, Hartlepool, Notts Co, Chesterfield, Wrexham, Barnet, Yeovil etc it would make sense. Years ago most were part time but how the game has gone and the number of large names it would be a workable option surely.

You can’t have the like of Chorley or North Ferriby being league sides, this is the last point where clubs of that size fail to make the final step up (except forest green but that was due to money)

I actually think you could have something along the lines off league two north and south which would make more sense financially and alongside that reduce championship, league one and the two new leagues north and south to 20 or 22 clubs.

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

You can’t have the like of Chorley or North Ferriby being league sides, this is the last point where clubs of that size fail to make the final step up (except forest green but that was due to money)

I actually think you could have something along the lines off league two north and south which would make more sense financially and alongside that reduce championship, league one and the two new leagues north and south to 20 or 22 clubs.

Yes, furloughing players & management will be allowed in-line with the rules of the furlough scheme.

The Government hasn’t allowed the National League to operate from the 31 December, when the last instalment of funding was paid.

You also can’t force a business to take a loan to continue to operate.

The issue here isn’t the structure of the leagues, or the “elite” & “non-elite” tag, it’s the failure of the National League to source funding for its clubs & failure of the DCMS to recognise that funding in the form of loans to clubs directly, or the National League, will have significant consequences.

Yes, furloughing players & management will be allowed in-line with the rules of the furlough scheme.

The Government hasn’t allowed the National League to operate from the 31 December, when the last instalment of funding was paid.

You also can’t force a business to take a loan to continue to operate.

The issue here isn’t the structure of the leagues, or the “elite” & “non-elite” tag, it’s the failure of the National League to source funding for its clubs & failure of the DCMS to recognise that funding in the form of loans to clubs directly, or the National League, will have significant consequences.

You’d reduce the size of the leagues rather than just calling the National League, League 3 and you’d have to be FT.

A proper professional/semi professional split.

 

[DontBringBertie]

Slough were DESPERATE to get the playoffs done last season, even setting up a go fund me.

Now they’re near the relegation zone they’re flat out refusing to play.

I wonder why?

 

[#Beebot]

Should be points deductions for Slough, Concord and Havant.

There is no good reason why they can't wait until the process is concluded.

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

Should be points deductions for Slough, Concord and Havant.

There is no good reason why they can't wait until the process is concluded.

Agreed - too many tin pot clubs playing the system since all this began.

 

[SuperHans]

Should be points deductions for Slough, Concord and Havant.

There is no good reason why they can't wait until the process is concluded.

spot on.