National League North & South suspended for two weeks

[the futures white]

A statement from The National League Board.

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.

[silverado]

What's the point of a 2-week suspension? Surely they don't expect the Covid or govt assistance situation to have improved in 2 weeks? It's not like if pitches are covered in snow.

[The Don]

As we feared, now what do we have to look forward to?! That will teach us to be flying high with our house in order. Money talks eh.

[Gary C]

It's absolutely the right decision in my opinion.
It was the right decision to start the season, the grant system allowed for that. Now that the situation has changed, relying on loans either from Govt or the League would not be my choice - we currently have no way of paying them back as crowds returning to football looks a pipe dream before the summer.

[Ajaxman DFC]

Suspensions, restrictions whatever. Ten months down the line it's the same old record with the first track on the album, composed last March, being Boris Johnson's original lockdown declaration that "We'll be out of this in 12 weeks".
I suspect that the National League's suspension period will be used to consult with individual clubs' on their desired outcome regarding the conclusion of the current season.
I am now 99% expecting this 14 day suspension of all league games to end with Option 3 being confirmed.

Her Majesty the Queen nailed it with her cover version of the late Dame Vera Lynn.
And we will meet again but when?. That's the million dollar question.
It'll probably be when we have a new team with our present players having gone into management, and Daniel Craig attends the premiere of "No Time to Die" accompanied by a zimmer frame.

[Ozymandias]

Should never have started the season. Full stop.
But it was sort of fun watching streamed games. I think that when we do go back??? to watching in the stadium I'll be half expecting the ball?players to freeze in mid air.
A two week suspension will make no difference AT ALL.

[Reginald Horsfield]

Should never have started the season. Full stop.
But it was sort of fun watching streamed games. I think that when we do go back??? to watching in the stadium I'll be half expecting the ball?players to freeze in mid air.
A two week suspension will make no difference AT ALL.

Is it not for everybody to discuss all options. After all communication is the art of success. Rather than clubs take a vigilante stand and refuse to play ties. Some saying because of health and safety reasons yet they would continue if it were a grant !!!!

[Reginald Horsfield]

It's absolutely the right decision in my opinion.
It was the right decision to start the season, the grant system allowed for that. Now that the situation has changed, relying on loans either from Govt or the League would not be my choice - we currently have no way of paying them back as crowds returning to football looks a pipe dream before the summer.

What would the repayment terms be over. What are the sums being said. Who knows. Surely the clubs have to at the very least discuss it all before maybe coming to that conclusion.

[Pedro]

I suspect that even the best run clubs would struggle with a loan arrangement - even with a sugar daddy. There are a significant number of clubs that have no other income and prior to Covid were run hand to mouth by attendance income and fundraising and paying back a loan (over 10 years I believe) is not going to help even if that was interest free.

We started the season in the right way and grants enabled that and furlough has helped full time staff and players to an extent. Unfortunately we have to be realistic and the government or other funding in not bottomless pots. As much as I miss the football we have the bear in mind the taxes we and younger generations will have to pay.

Above all else, we do need to think of safety of players and staff at this time and few predicted that there would be such an uptick in infections right now - as with the rest of the world.

[Reginald Horsfield]

I suspect that even the best run clubs would struggle with a loan arrangement - even with a sugar daddy. There are a significant number of clubs that have no other income and prior to Covid were run hand to mouth by attendance income and fundraising and paying back a loan (over 10 years I believe) is not going to help even if that was interest free.

We started the season in the right way and grants enabled that and furlough has helped full time staff and players to an extent. Unfortunately we have to be realistic and the government or other funding in not bottomless pots. As much as I miss the football we have the bear in mind the taxes we and younger generations will have to pay.

Above all else, we do need to think of safety of players and staff at this time and few predicted that there would be such an uptick in infections right now - as with the rest of the world.

Pedro please understand I'm not playing Devils advocate but how much would it cost to furlough the players of all these teams. Could that possibly cost the government more ? I don't know but so much of this in the public domain is either Speculation or guessing. This needs to be discussed and for clubs to tell the league we are not going to fulfil fixtures surely is constitutionally wrong. For them to argue its for health and safety reasons now, then why have they been playing at all then ?