Poppies join others in calling for the season to be suspended

A dozen National League North clubs insist they are "not prepared to trade whilst insolvent"
Kettering Town are one of 12 National League North clubs to have called for the season to be suspended. Picture by Peter ShortKettering Town are one of 12 National League North clubs to have called for the season to be suspended. Picture by Peter Short
Kettering Town are one of 12 National League North clubs to have called for the season to be suspended. Picture by Peter Short

Kettering Town are one of 12 Vanarama National League North clubs who have officially called for the 2020/21 season to be suspended.

The 66 member clubs met with the National League earlier this week to discuss the issues over the government's Winter Survival Package.

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While the first three months of the campaign saw clubs financially assisted by grants from the National Lottery to cover the loss in revenue with no fans able to attend matches due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the next £11m for January, February and March will take the form of loans - which has left a number of clubs concerned.

At the meeting this week, clubs were asked to provide views on three options - the operation of a club loan process, the operation of a National League loan or a suspension to the National League 2020/21 season.

All clubs have now given their views to the National League Board who are set to discuss the situation today (Friday).

However, National League South clubs Slough Town and Concord Rangers have confirmed their intention to not play their matches this weekend while Havant & Waterlooville have placed themselves in a 10-day isolation period.

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And now, 12 National League North clubs, including Kettering and their scheduled opponents tomorrow Darlington, have now put their names to a statement calling for an immediate suspension of the league to enable time for the National League, FA and Department for Culture, Media and Sport to find a way forward.

In the statement, the 12 clubs said: ‘’Whilst the integrity of the National League is important, we do not value this above the safety and well being of our families, staff, volunteers or that of our heroic workers who are tackling this pandemic on the frontline.

"Furthermore, we have now been asked to consider loans against our clubs and we are quite simply not prepared to trade whilst insolvent.

"Therefore, we are calling for the immediate suspension of the league competition to allow the National League, FA and the DCMS time to find a solution that is acceptable to all.

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"This suspension will allow us the time to lobby our respective MPs and carry out our own financial risk assessments against avoiding a null and void scenario.

"An inability to secure acceptable funding to cover Covid testing and the loss of fans will continue to render us insolvent and we are not prepared to prolong this beyond January 29, 2021.

"We are duty bound as mere custodians of our clubs and will do everything we can to ensure we do not place any avoidable further financial burden now or in the future upon our community assets.

"Quite simply, 66 clubs would not have willingly participated in any footballing competition which initiated playing contracts, without assurances."

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The clubs and chairmen who have placed their names to the statement are: AFC Telford – Andy Pryce, Alfreton Town – Wayne Bradley, Bradford (Park Avenue) – Martin Knight, Blyth Spartans – Anthony Platten, Curzon Ashton - Wayne Salkeld , Darlington – David Johnston, Farsley Celtic – Joshua Greaves, Gateshead – Neil Pinkerton, Guiseley – Gary Douglas, Kettering Town – David Mahoney, Southport – Ian Kyle, Spennymoor Town – Tony Wilson.

At this stage, the Poppies are due to play Darlington at Latimer Park tomorrow afternoon after the National League had confirmed all matches this weekend should go ahead as scheduled.