Huge FA legal bill hits South Shields

South Shields face a crippling legal bill of £200,000 after being told they must pay the FA’s share of the costs from their failed appeal against a decision to expunge the season. the Northern Premier league leaders fronted the appeal on behalf of hundreds of dissatisfied semi-professional clubs and followed the FA’s Rule K arbitration process. But the claim was dismissed and having to pay the FA’s costs doubles the bill and magnifies a feeling that the governing body have let down small clubs they should be helping in these difficult times. the latest blow came in a week when the National league voted to conclude their season on a pointsper-game basis, with promotion and play-offs but no relegation from the National league North or South. that means those at the top of the Northern Premier, Southern league and isthmian league will not be rewarded for their efforts and investment made in 2019-20. the seasons were abandoned and expunged in April. Many complained it was unfair at the time, writing to the FA to protest. ‘i’m clearly devastated by the outcome but have to accept it,’ said South Shields chairman Geoff thompson. ‘Clubs at our level have experienced a serious injustice and lack of respect and support from the FA. ‘i’ve received hundreds of comments from clubs devastated by the decision. We had hoped the FA would treat us the same as the National league and other levels of the pyramid. Now we all have to come to terms with the outcome. ‘A further challenge for us is to now fund the cost of a process we had no choice but to invoke, and these costs include the FA’s legal costs which are very considerable.’