With COVID-19 wreaking havoc across English Football, and already causing two leagues to have their seasons Null and Voided, we look at what this could mean for Non-League clubs as the season goes on.
With the Government announcing that the grants given to The National League have expired and are now set to be loans, throwing clubs across the 3 divisions into a large state of uncertainty, the question now is, what next?
Clubs have been heavily affected by the virus without consistent testing, seen in the Premier League, and now the EFL, with bottom club Dover playing only 12 games due to outbreaks in their squad. This has led to some clubs calling for the season to be curtailed over fears that the fixture congestion would become too much for players to handle.
There has already been some unrest in the National League with some clubs not happy about how the first set of grants were distributed in October.
Three possible outcomes have been drawn up for clubs to vote on, these are:
· Low interest club loans over a 10-year period
· League receives the loans and gives clubs the money in the form of grants
· Suspend the season
Several clubs in the National League North and South have publicly responded with Eastbourne Borough, Chester and Hemel Hempstead Town opting to vote for option 2, and Darlington, Concord Rangers, Tonbridge Angels and Slough Town opting for option 3.
Gloucester City and Dorking Wanderers have chosen not to vote for any of the three options.
Concord Rangers have also announced that they refuse to play any more fixtures until there is further “information on financial support for regular testing” in the National League.
Havant & Waterlooville have also announced that they will not play their next 3 games after they put the first team squad into isolation for 10 days.
The National League also plan to meet on Friday and expect this weekend’s round of fixtures to go ahead as planned.
Non-League fans have also voiced their opinion with a number of fans hoping for option 2 with Notts County fan, K-Ci, and Torquay United fan, Will, saying it is the “ideal situation” for clubs as they will get a fair share of the money. While Telford fan, Adam, feels like option 3 is best suited to the club.
Other leagues below the National League are also beginning to draw up plans on what to do with their season with The Lincolnshire Football League and West Lancashire League being made null and void. And a growing number of leagues look likely to decide on an outcome soon, with the chances of finishing the season looking less likely each day.
With the future of a number of clubs in the Non-League pyramid uncertain and no sign of income for clubs in the near future, owners and fans alike will be looking for answers to make sure Non-League Football is preserved and clubs can get back to playing again as soon as possible.
Picture supplied by Dave Budden.