The Toolstation NCEL have been the first league to release a statement on the latest situation which affects 37 of their 40 clubs. Only Harrogate Railway, Knaresborough Town and Selby Town can welcome spectators as North Yorkshire is classed as Tier 2.
The FA previously said many months ago that games being played behind closed doors for Steps 3 for 6 was not financially viable.
But the NCEL have given clubs until Sunday to relay their feedback on the idea of playing behind closed doors. Clubs have until 5pm on Sunday 29th November to reply.
The league have already asked the question once, back in the summer and received an overwhelming response of ‘no’.
For the majority of clubs, playing behind closed doors and without any income is a bad idea given floodlights, match officials, player wages and other associated costs.
The Government has laid aside money for clubs in Steps 3 to 6 as part of their winter support package, but it believed the financial support is in loans rather than grants.
I don’t see how clubs can afford to play BCD, with no income , they still have the outgoings
Agreed. This season will end up being null and void again below step 3.
I don’t see how the smaller divs idea would have worked. But I certainly can’t see 95% of clubs in the NPL down being able to play with empty grounds. In all honesty, it’s only because the govt were forced to pony up that the confs divs have played. They surely won’t fund ALL clubs across the country.
The new system may be even worse for non -league football – the govt will say clubs can have fans in now so don’t need funding BUT only some actually get to have crowds paying in. So Pickering can get their general crowd in, as things stand, but Brighouse has to be empty? V unfair.
The clubs in Tier 2 areas would surely have a recruitment advantage? They would have cashflow and would be able to pay players accordingly.