Baker: ‘Only a matter of time before Step 2 is cancelled’
Rebels’ joint boss will also be amazed if league presses ahead with sanctions for clubs
Slough Town boss Neil Baker says he’ll be shocked if sanctions are brought against Slough Town for failing to fulfil their recent fixtures and believes it’s now just a matter of time before football at step 2 is cancelled and declared null and void.
More than two weeks ago clubs were asked to vote on a series of resolutions to determine the outcome of their respective league seasons and, while the outcome of that vote is still unknown, Baker believes there’s a clear majority of clubs in the National League North and South who have voted in favour of scrapping the season.
There is an expectation that games will continue in the National League, but the situation is far less certain for the step 2 divisions. If the first resolution is passed, enabling each club a vote on its respective division, a simple majority is needed either way for the season to be cancelled.
“We’re going to stand strong and wait for the vote to come out,” he said. “But we know the vote for step 2 is to null and void, that’s clear.
“We’re just waiting on resolution 1, and there are some clubs in the National League who haven’t voted yet. But I fully expect that to pass and for our league to be null and voided.
“The lobbying hasn’t worked. Everyone is fully aware now that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) isn’t going to relent and give grants. They’ve said that’s not going to happen. But from our point of view I don’t see Slough playing another game this season, that’s my personal opinion.”
Baker believes a majority of 23 or 24 clubs across the North and South divisions have voted to end the season immediately, because playing on just wouldn’t be sustainable. He’ll also be amazed if the league does decide to follow through with its charge and punish clubs, because he ‘doesn’t think there’s a court in the land that would say they don’t have just cause for not playing’.
He added: “The votes are split between the North and the South leagues and I think there’s 24 to 19 (in favour of null and voiding the season). If it was just the South league, I think it would continue because there’s 13 who want to continue and eight that don’t. But you couldn’t have the South league playing without the North. It’s never going to happen. We hope to hear this week, but it’s a little bit irrelevant for us because we don’t have a game this weekend anyway.
“We know how teams have voted. One club hasn’t stated yet, but I know which way they’ve gone, so I know where we stand figures wise. Hopefully we’ll hear something before the weekend, but I wouldn’t bank on it. Our decision is justified, because it’s not a sustainable business model. We’re still a business that needs to trade to survive and without the fans it’s impossible.”
On the threat of sanctions from the league for not playing, Baker added: “I think it’s more of a procedural thing. I’ll be brutally honest I don’t expect any sanctions to be taken. I don’t expect us to be charged, and I would be shocked if they chose to charge us in the current climate.
“If there’s any case against us I don’t think they could win it. We’ve got just cause and that’s the big word here. I think they’ve pretty much highlighted that in the statement they’ve made. They know full well they can’t force clubs to trade potentially insolvently
and also without a testing regime in place.
“I think initially it was a threat by the National League to try and bully clubs into playing matches, but enough clubs have made the stand not to play, and they then realised that
whilst they’ve got to follow the procedure of sending through the charge sheet, they’re not in a position to really do anything. That’s just my opinion. I don’t think there’s any court in the land that wouldn’t say we have just cause for not playing.”
Slough Town have been charged by the National League for failing to fulfil their fixtures after the club refused to play matches while uncertainty over the current campaign continues.
Clubs have been voting on a series of resolutions that will either see the season continue behind closed doors or cancelled and declared null and void, and the Rebels are one of many across step 2 refusing to play on whilst the outcome of these votes are unknown.
The National League has committed to publishing the results of all four resolutions as soon as every club has responded. Two weeks have passed since those resolutions were issued but the BBC understands the league is now close to determining the outcome of those votes for the three leagues.
The Rebels have said they’re disappointed to have been charged by the league, adding that they stand in solidarity with Dulwich Hamlet, Southport FC, Bath City and other clubs that have taken the same stance. All have questioned the financial sense of playing on with only loans to support them while the Rebels have repeatedly called for improved COVID-19 safety measures for players and club staff. Clubs across the National League structure have also been angered by the apparent promise of further grant funding beyond December, something that has not materialised, and many have said they would not have started the season had they known otherwise.
Under league rules any club which fails to fulfil a competitive fixture without just cause is liable to disciplinary action, including a deduction of points and or fines. Slough’s case is due to be heard on February 25.
They have initially been charged with failing to fulfil their fixtures with Chelmsford City on February 6 and Ebbsfleet United on February 9. The club has seven days to reply to the charges.
The lack of certainty over the season has led to clubs taking unilateral decisions, with Maidstone United putting their first team squad on furlough and saying they’ll use non-contract or loan players if the vote is passed to carry on.
This weekend the league tried to calm tensions by insisting that no fines or sanctions have been ‘raised or recommended’
at this stage for clubs failing to fulfil their fixtures.
A statement from the National League read: “Many things have been written regarding charges recently raised in connection for nonfulfilment of fixtures under League Rules.
“It may be helpful to explain that this process is merely a mechanism for the League to deal with each of the occasions for non-fulfilment. No fines or sanctions have been raised or recommended and this will be considered at the next stage.
“An Independent Panel will be appointed to hear each case and it will be at this stage the issue of “just cause” as outlined in the rule will be objectively assessed in each case based on the evidence before them.
“In the interest of fairness of all parties, the cases will not be heard until such time as the outcome of the resolutions are known.
“It is important that the framework in place is followed in a consistent manner in all cases and Clubs can make their representations appropriately and fairly.
“The League will not make any comment during the process on individual cases in fairness to all Clubs but will issue the outcomes and reasons for the decisions following their conclusions.
“Should Clubs remain unsatisfied with the outcome they will also all have the opportunity to appeal the decision directly to The Football Association which will be heard by a further Independent Panel in line with The FA Rules and Regulations.”