PYRAMID YELLING
Non-league clubs feel they have been sold out and South Shields chief says: There will be a revolt ALVECHURCH REDDITCH
THE FA have been warned they face “a revolt” from semi-pro clubs after their season was scrapped.
More than 20 clubs from tier seven and below are set to unite in a bid to force the FA to change their decision to strike this campaign from the record books.
South Shields chairman Geoff Thompson says “tempers are high” and spent yesterday fielding calls from owners across England ready to protest.
Competitions below the three National Leagues were cancelled on Thursday with results “expunged” as a result of the coronavirus shutdown, with no promotion or relegation.
The Mariners were 12 points clear at the top of the Northern Premier League and almost guaranteed to be in the National League North, the sixth tier, next season.
They are leading a demand for the FA to “change their rule book” and want this season’s promotions decided on average points per game.
Thompson said: “More than 20 clubs have already contacted me from all over – Leicestershire, the north west, the south coast... there is a swell of opinion that what has been decided is wrong.
“We have not given up hope that this will be revisited and overturned. We will fight as hard as we can.
“There will be a revolt from fans and everyone in the football family. The whole fabric
ALVECHURCH’S new boss Ian Long admitted his side had probably benefitted from a welcome but unsatisfactory end to the season.
His team were second bottom in the Southern Premier Central but Long said: “It would have been tough for us but we were confident that we could do it. “The FA have made the right decision. It was the only option but I do feel for the sides at the top of the table.” and integrity of the league system and the pyramid is challenged by this.
“Will they do this to Premier League and EFL?”
Clubs have appointed lawyers to scour FA regulations to find grounds for appeal.
Thompson (right) added: “It is our strong suggestion that the FA rule book is amended, so that such injustices do not occur. What if another season is hit by a virus?
“We strongly disagree that the
JERSEY BULLS intend to lobby the FA after they were denied promotion despite already having enough points to go up. The Channel Islands side had sealed promotion from Division One of the Combined Counties League, winning all 27 league games with 11 left to play. They had raised £250,000 for the new term, and chairman Russell Le Feuvre said: “We will be engaging further with the FA and the Combined Counties League on this issue.” they should be consigned to the history books.
“There are fairer ways – applying a points-per-game ratio to the standings and potentially promoting those in promotion positions and sparing those in relegation spots, leading to some leagues being slightly larger in number the following campaign. We will seek clarification over whether, with all of the results of the 2019-20 season now annulled, all fines
REDDITCH UNITED chairman Chris Swan, whose club were bottom of the Southern Premier Central, is relieved to have beaten the drop – but admits they are in “hell” just battling to stay solvent. He said: “Nobody is worthy of promotion or relegation until it is mathematically possible. Although bottom, we were competing well. “But the club is going through hell. It’s a very difficult time.” paid to the FA as a result of players picking up yellow and red cards in those matches will now be reimbursed.
“We will seek clarification over whether the FA will now refund all tickets bought by supporters for those annulled games.
“We will seek clarification over whether the FA will reimburse the costs accrued by clubs over the last six months for coach travel to away fixtures, which in our case equates to approximately £20,000.”
STAFFORD RANGERS have been saved from what looked like certain relegation from the Northern Premier League. They were rock bottom and seven points adrift of safety. Joint boss Alex Meechan said: “The crisis in the world is more important than what Stafford Rangers were facing. “But the league has decided to determine the outcome, and if we’ve benefited from that then the fans and the whole football club deserve that.”