Devon scream

TORQUAY HAS BEEN HIT HARD BY PANDEMIC, BUT FOOTBALL GIVES THE TOWN HOPE... I’M PRAYING WE CAN FINISH THE SEASON ‘DON’T PULL PLUG ON £10M THAT COULD HAVE HELPED NHS’

THE National League is in poor shape – but voiding the season would just be a huge waste of public money already pumped in.

That’s the view of former Crystal Palace chairman, Mark Goldberg (right), now chairman at National League South outfit Welling.

The result of a vote on whether to pull the plug on the lowest three tiers of the elite game is expected early this week.

At the moment, it seems likely that the National League WILL continue. But the situation in the tier below is still far from clear cut. A £10million cash injection in a partnership with the National Lottery was made in October to help the season start.

But further support is now offered in the form of repayable loans - leaving clubs facing a financial risk to fulfil their fixtures.

Goldberg said: “We feel that we have a responsibility to continue and finish the season.

“Otherwise that £10m of grants should have gone to much better causes. If the season is null and void as of the end of January, then that money should have been spent on the NHS or the numerous other causes that are more deserving than us.

“What’s ridiculous is that we got to the end of December and no one knew how we could possibly afford to continue without crowds or further grants.

“Now we’re being offered loans instead and we’re in a very, very difficult situation. On one hand we’re privileged to be classed as an elite club able to give something back to our community – even though fans aren’t allowed in, they can watch the new video streams.

“But a large number of clubs are now being asked to take on further debt, not knowing whether they can repay it.”

Those are not the only numbers that need careful crunching – if the league does continue, Welling have a daunting 29 more games to play before the end of May.