After discussions with Hereford about this weekends game and if it will be played, we can announce that the game will be postponed. Hereford were open and honest about their preference to play the game, whilst they wait for the outcome of the vote to determine whether or not the season will continue, and to send a team to the Horsfall, we fully respect and understand their position.

We have chosen for the same reasons we did not play against Farsley and Blythe, not to fulfil the scheduled fixture. This will mean that we will yet again be sited by the National League for breach of rule 8.39. We have written to the NL explaining the financial reasons we are unable to do this without first knowing if our grant application has been accepted in full or not. The directors, players, Mark and Danny desperately want to play the remainder of the season, but not if that means putting the long term future of the club at risk.

On a positive note we have already held our first recruitment meeting with Mark, Danny and Ryan to discuss the squad for season 21/22 where we fully expect to be competing once again in the National League North.

#UTA

Following a meeting between clubs in the National League North and South we wish to make the following statement: 

All undersigned clubs support the re-commencement of all viable fixtures until the results of the resolution are known, but only when both clubs participating in a fixture are in agreement and when there is a fully funded COVID testing regime in place, as both the NL and it’s member clubs have a duty of care for the safety of players and staff..

Clubs who are unable to commit to fixtures should continue to have their season held in suspense by the league and do so without fear of sanctions.

Furthermore, we have agreed to submit our votes on the resolutions to the National League as soon as reasonably practical and implore all clubs at Steps 1 & 2 to do likewise.

Any delay or abstaining from voting would be damaging for the clubs in the most urgent situations.

We must finish the season with all 66 clubs in existence.

AFC Telford FC – Andy Pryce

Bath City FC – Paul Williams

Blyth Spartans FC – Tony Platten

Bradford Park Avenue FC – Martin Knight

Chippenham Town FC – Neil Blackmore

Curzon Ashton FC – Rob Hurst

Darlington FC – David Johnston

Dulwich Hamlet FC – Ben Clasper

Farsley Celtic FC – Joshua Greaves

Gateshead FC – Neil Pinkerton

Guiseley AFC – Gary Douglas

Kettering Town FC – Ritchie Jeune

Southport FC – Ian Kyle

Slough Town FC – Kay Lathey

Spennymoor Town FC – Tony Wilson

We wanted to take this opportunity to give full visibility to our fans on where we currently are in terms of the 20/21 season, the National League Vote and our next few fixtures.

As many of you are aware we have had over the last 2 weeks lots changes in the information we were given when we kicked off the league in October and also in the nature of the pandemic itself since that start. These changes have increased the financial burden on the club significantly and it is with the long term preservation of the club that we have made the below decisions

Firstly in the NL vote which came to us late on Monday night we have today voted

• Resolution 1 we voted for the National League North and South to decide their own leagues fate
• Resolution 3 (assuming that resolution 1 passes) we voted to Null and Void the season
• Resolution 4 we voted for the National League North votes to be for Null and Voiding of the season

The concept that it takes 28 days for all 66 votes to be counted is quite honestly staggering and puts us in a position that would mean we play on for another 4 weeks, incurring all of the costs associated with that, only to possibly find the league has been Null and Voided. As a board we cannot enter into this type of irresponsible course of actions, so we have written to the board and advised them that until the votes are all in and counted and final decision on the season continuing has been made, we wont be playing any further matches, in the short term this means our games at home this Saturday against Farsley and next Tuesday away at Blythe will not be taking place with a team from Bradford (Park Avenue).

Once the outcome of the vote is know we have asked the NLB to confirm that grants will be forth coming to enable us to compete further and complete this seasons fixtures.

We can confirm that, due to once again Gareth supporting us, we will be able to start the 21/22 season in the National League North if no grants are forth coming and the current season is null and voided.

#UTA

Following on from last night’s statement, we have created this image to help!

The National League has distributed resolutions this evening for Member Clubs to consider the outcome of the 2020/21 season. 

The resolutions are formed of four parts: one Special Resolution and three Ordinary Resolutions based on the outcome of the first. A Special Resolution requires a 75% majority to be passed, whereas an Ordinary Resolution requires a more than 50% majority. Resolution 1 and 4 votes will be counted under prescribed voting conditions. Resolution 2 and 3 will be counted with one vote per Member Club.  

Should Resolution 1 pass, Resolution 2 and 3 will be counted, with Resolution 4 disregarded. Should Resolution 1 be voted against, Resolution 4 will be counted, with Resolution 2 and 3 votes disregarded. 

Under The National League’s Articles of Association, Member Clubs have 28 days to return voting submissions. 

The resolutions are as follows: 

Resolution 1 (All Clubs)

That Resolution 2 about whether to end the 2020/21 Playing Season of The National League (Step 1) be taken only by Clubs in the National League and that Resolution 3 about whether to end the 2020/21 Playing Season of the National League North and the National League South (Step 2) be taken only by Clubs that play in the National League North or the National League South with votes cast for Resolution 3 being counted on a one member, one vote basis for National League North and National League South Clubs. 

Resolution 2 (National League Only)

That, conditional upon Resolution 1 being passed, the 2020/21 Playing Season of the National League (Step 1) shall immediately end on the date this Resolution 2 is passed and be declared null and void and subject to the approval of The Football Association, those Regulations that provide for promotion and relegation to and from Step 1 be suspended for the 2020/21 Playing Season. 

Resolution 3 (National League North and South Only)

That, conditional upon Resolution 1 being passed, the 2020/21 Playing Season of the National League North and the National League South (Step 2) shall immediately end on the date this Resolution 3 is passed and be declared null and void and subject to the approval of The Football Association those Regulations that provide for promotion and relegation to and from Step 2 be suspended for the 2020/21 Playing Season. 

Resolution 4 (All Clubs)

That, conditional upon Resolution 1 being passed, the 2020/21 Playing Season of the National League North and the National League South (Step 2) shall immediately end on the date this Resolution 3 is passed and be declared null and void and subject to the approval of The Football Association those Regulations that provide for promotion and relegation to and from Step 2 be suspended for the 2020/21 Playing Season. 

’Firstly, we wish to acknowledge the decisiveness in which the National League dealt with our concerns by supporting our request for the immediate suspension of our competitions on January 22. 

We have this evening received a letter from Nigel Huddleston MP (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Sport, Tourism and Heritage) inviting us to a webinar tomorrow, which will allow Sport England to set out the criteria for loans and grants (the latter of which is available only for those with no ability to repay loans).

Loans are merely an extension to our life support and therefore foolhardy.

We have yet to receive any assurances as to how we may mitigate against our inability to test our employees and volunteers for COVID, or against the government’s insistence that we trade whilst insolvent.

With no apparent end in sight, this excruciating pandemic has us all facing financial imbalances of varying degrees. 

All of this is adding to additional stress and uncertainty that could and should have been avoidable.

Having since been ordered to re-schedule our postponed games in accordance with the National League rules, we must now reiterate our stance.

Without adequate and fair funding towards COVID testing and to offset against the loss of income, we are unable to uphold the integrity of the football pyramid and insist that the season is curtailed no later than Friday, February 5, to allow all clubs to be assessed for grants.”

AFC Telford – Andy Pryce

Alfreton Town – Wayne Bradley

Bradford (Park Avenue) – Martin Knight

Concord Rangers – Antony Smith

Curzon Ashton – Wayne Salkeld

Chippenham Town – Neil Blackmore

Darlington – David Johnston

Dulwich Hamlet – Ben Clasper

Farsley Celtic – Joshua Greaves

Gateshead – Neil Pinkerton

Guiseley – Gary Douglas

Hereford – Rob Crawford

Kettering Town – David Mahoney 

Slough Town – Kay Lathey

Southport – Ian Kyle

Spennymoor Town – Tony Wilson

Following the review of the feedback from Clubs in connection to the recent Clubs meeting, a Board meeting this morning decided to halt the participation in the North/South Divisions for a two-week period, effective immediately.

As a result, tomorrow’s games are formally postponed.

The club’s executives met yesterday after attending a meeting with the National League yesterday afternoon. After due consideration of the options presented to the club we wanted address our position on several matters.

We feel it is important to first acknowledge that the club only agreed to start the current season when we were given assurances from the National League that financial aid in the form of grants would be forth coming.

At the meeting yesterday the National League presented financial aid in the form of loans. The first option is a direct loan from Sport England to the club. The second whilst dressed up as a grant is still a loan. The National League would take the loan from Sport England and then distribute this to the clubs in the form of grant; however the disbursements from the National League central funds, whilst they were repaying their loan, would be reduced to all member clubs, effectively making this an advance (loan) on future earnings for the club.

Neither of these options are healthy for the long term future of the club, as it would mean strapping the club with a 10-year loan to complete this season.

It is our greatest wish to see the exciting squad Mark and Danny have put together complete all of our remaining fixtures, so we have written to the National League requesting that they meet the original commitment of grants for the entire season. We are capable of meeting all of our financial commitments up until the end of January after such time we would need either for the National League to confirm that aid will be forthcoming as grants, or that the entire season be Null and Void, with no promotion or relegation.

It is our desire for the club to be here for future generations. As such our position and decision is not taken lightly, but we feel is the right one for the club both now and moving forward.

Please also find attached an additional joint statement from fellow National League North clubs.

Statement From National League North Clubs

#UTA

Gareth Roberts

John Dean

David Little

Martin Knight

We are delighted to announce the details of our live coverage of Saturday’s National League North fixture against Kidderminster Harriers.

We go live at 14:30, and once again, behind the mic we have Mick ‘Game Caller’ Gledhill, backed up by our co-commentators.

Andy is behind the interview camera and we hope to bring you them exclusively on the stream as well!

We hope you can join us, all this will cost just £5.00!

Follow the link below, if you are a first time user you will need to sign up, its free to create an account;

https://streaming.insightfour.com/stream/Y1FXMTBw

The National League has held meetings with Member Clubs today to discuss further information regarding the Government’s Winter Survival Package.

A presentation was given to Member Clubs at today’s meetings to assess various options. The National League wishes to place on record its gratitude for the approach of Member Clubs at each meeting.

Interim General Manager of The National League, Mark Ives, has requested each Member Club to provide views on three points:

1. The operation of a Club Loan process.
2. The operation of a National League Loan.
3. A suspension to The National League 2020/21 season.

The purpose of feedback is to assist the Board in understanding views of all 66 Clubs. The Board will be meeting before the end of the week.