‘WE ARE UNDER SERIOUS THREAT’
NORTHERN Premier League chairman Mark Harris says there is an “immediate threat” to the future of Non-League clubs – as the Alliance leagues unite in their bid for financial support that will keep the game alive.
Many in football hold genuine fears as to what NonLeague football will look like when the coronavirus shutdown has ended and football resumes.
The National League, Northern Premier League, Isthmian League and Southern League issued a questionnaire to all their clubs this week asking them to spell out the financial impact of the season’s suspension.
That information has been taken to the Football Association – who have been working closely with the leagues – to ask for funding. The parties are working on an outcome as soon as possible and will hold a video conference tomorrow to continue discussions on the season’s outcome.
The National League and Northern Premier League played on last weekend, while the Isthmian and Southern League chose to follow the lead of the Premier League and EFL to suspend games.
Last Monday, following the latest government advice, all football in the country came to a halt.
“The big question now is, of course, what happens going forward?” Harris told The NLP. “There are discussions ongoing – certainly each individual league board will have its own view but, unlike the suspension of fixtures, I believe this has to be one solution certainly for
Steps 1-4.
“We have the additional complication that the professional game is making noises about a resumption, but the reality at our level is clubs cannot afford to pay players now. I do know some clubs have reached amicable agreements with some of their contract players but that is still a massive issue. “But it’s also, in some respects, a side issue because the reality is all clubs need cash to survive. They’re being starved of the oxygen not just in terms of matches being called off but functions being called off in the bar and so on.
“There is a clear and immediate threat to clubs at our level. What we are doing currently, as a result of the Alliance’s version of COBRA, is we have issued a questionnaire, designed by the National League and adopted by the Step 3/4 leagues, which has gone to all our clubs. It asks them to quantify their financial losses.
Vulnerable
“Our plan is then we will submit a bid to the Football Association for funding. The government is doing a number of things but I’m not sure how many of our clubs fall
within government plans, particularly in and around player contracts.
“It’s not about how long clubs can keep going paying people – because you’re talking volunteers and noncontract – but you still have to make your payments.
“There is some relief to PAYE but there is still an immediate clear and present threat to clubs at our level. Wherever that financial support comes from, the key thing is to have a coordinated approach.”
The other looming question – without any inkling of when it will return – is what will happen when football starts up again.
It’s not a straightforward path in Non-League and there is the added issue of the introduction of a new division at Step 4, to be administered by the NPL from next season, as well as changes at Steps 5 and 6.
“In my view it has to be one solution across the board,” Harris said. “If the professional game elects to restart, it remains questionable whether we can confirm who gets promoted and relegated, as yet.
“It also brings into question whether the restructure goes ahead as planned – we just don’t know. There are still more questions than there are answers. The priority has to be, through whatever means possible, short-term and immediate financial help for our clubs.
“Have I got confidence it will happen? Well, you’ve always got to travel in hope but I’m not naive. We need to make as loud a noise as we possibly can to make sure our needs are recognised.”
In this week’s NLP, we are urging the game, particularly the Premier League, to make sure it doesn’t forget the most in need.
“Much is being made of the need to protect the most vulnerable in society. Well, we are the most vulnerable in football,” Harris said.
“If as a society we are – and thankfully we are –embracing the need to protect the vulnerable, then the rest of football, please, come and help. We need to be protected.”