Quote from: Mallard on September 22, 2020, 06:19:32 PM

If clubs can’t survive without crowds in at our level ( the elite few apart)  then sadly the League will need to pull the plug and club’s forced to mothball the Clubs for 12 months...   

Just to pick up on this, what would 'mothballing' actually look like?  SC made the comment that when it was announced the new season wouldn't start on 1st August, that most players had agreed to defer their start date until the season actually started (at the time he said one hadn't agreed).  Obviously players have come and gone since then but we are still probably in a much better position than many NL clubs with 'full-time' contracted squads and I would assume the PFA will pretty quickly get involved if the NL proposed cancelling all contracts for 2020/21

Puts the NL in a difficult place. Try to hold the league this season, and probably bankrupt most clubs into doing something they can’t afford. Or cancel (perpetually delay) the season, breaking the pyramid, and necessitating the cancelling/deferring of over a thousand players across the three divisions they control. It would probably Be better to just cancel, rather than defer it for a month at a time, to provide some clarity. Mini-tournament’s in spring/summer for some kind of football, kick off 2021 in August.

If there was the will, the government could require the PL to keep the lower tier clubs afloat in exchange for still being allowed to play and rake in their tv money, but that likely won’t happen. Possibly some hope of an entertainment targeted furlough type scheme given the mood music on the backbench’s. That or 50+ phoenix clubs come 2021, including us.

The simple fact is B & G that the test and trace system should be THE most important thing on the Government agenda.....if we have a reliable system, then everything can open up.. ... without one we will be over run. (again). The Government has had 6 months to get something reliable in place. Some other European countries have got something suitable in place. I suspect energies are being so dispersed by Brexit, that ministers have let things slip and the country sits in a precarious position. I work in 'close contact services'
and the last 2 months have been an absolute nightmare due to regular changing of advice and no reliable test.
Our neighbours are teachers, both with rasping coughs, who can't get a test... apparently 230,000 people are waiting for test results....I would wager at least the same again who need a test and can't get one....... it's very concerning

The lack of testing is already causing the system to creak, before we even get to the predicted Winter Crunch.

Picture this in a hypothetical school. A number of staff (less than 10) are off waiting for a test. Not results, waiting to have an actual test. Likely they’re fine, but they have to be off for 10 days or until they get a negative result. If a couple more off, the school will have to send a year group home as there won’t be the bodies to supervise them, all without anyone actually testing positive. And no doubt they’ll get complained at, in-spite of everything being done according to the ever changing PHE rulebook. This is the situation pretty much every secondary school is in at the moment.

The normal solution of supply teachers is trickier than normal, as they are understandably being far choosier in which schools they go to; as if they’ve been in a school that has to shut down, they have to not work for 14 days and have no income. So they’re asking how many are isolating in the school and weighing up whether it’s worth them coming in.

The trace part of the systems problem is small fry, compared to the test element. It’s like no-one from the DfE and the DoH realised the impact their policies would have on each other before schools went back.

So back to football, given how things are starting to crumble at the edges, I actually think starting the season in October as scheduled is unlikely, and probably irresponsible, given behind closed doors aren’t viable at this level. Have a feeling some regional mini-league might happen come the spring, before the level starts in earnest this time next year. Hope I’m wrong.

Let’s hope that at least some get to witness our first game back at this level.  A truly fantastic day in store for many, though I fear nowhere near enough.

Fingers crossed the game is streamed for those of us who cannot be there.

Given the new 6 person rule, I’m increasingly doubtful of any fans being let in.

Quote from: Mallard on August 19, 2020, 07:34:07 PM

I thought they were playing at Downham ? 

I believe that was the plan but apparently the two clubs haven't agreed on terms yet.   

Hopefully it will get resolved soon.

Given the announcement from the FA, I hope they at least start the season playing at the walks. Will give the club a chance to test systems for when/if the first-team are allowed to play in front of reduced crowds.

What has the old ground been used for, recently?

It’s now owned by a third tier Rugby Union side.

Quote from: Mallard on August 15, 2020, 10:59:08 AM

With you on that boys but.  Take Halifax as an example if West Yorks is in temporary lock down how can home games be played with even a restricted gate?  Then how can a team from a lockdown area travel elsewhere to fulfill a fixture.

*. Not sure if Halifax is in the area that is on restrictions, just using it as a ‘what if’

agree mallard , this season I can see either cut short or stop start throughout as like you say
‘Halifax’ lock down means poss 3-4 games pp and then how do they then fit them in an already busy schedule ??  Just hope we have a good start can see ppg deciding  next seasons outcome .... 🤞 hope I’m wrong

I hope they write into the league regulations who an incomplete season will be decided before it kicks off, to save all the wrangling we’ve had this year.

Think the decision is final Lough.  I guess if there were to be any appeal it would have to be quick with the fixtures coming out in early Sept.

That’s our local derby changed.   Notts Co now ?

From the statement , their is no more recourse to FA appeals, leaving CAS as the only body they could go to, but given the deductions are for non-payments in the first place, it’s unlikely they’ve got deep enough pockets to take it there.