END THE SEASON NOW TO SAVE US
Coasters chief in plea for survival
AFC FYLDE chairman David Haythornthwaite says the season must terminate now – or leave clubs at greater risk of going bust.
The Coasters chief has grown increasingly frustrated that a final decision over the campaign has been allowed to drift on in recent weeks, but is clear as to why that has happened.
“My view has been clear for the past month – I’ve been consistent for the season to be stopped. It’s lunacy to carry on,” he said with his side second from bottom of the National League table.
“Everyone knows that we are only continuing because the Premier League may have to pay back £750m to the TV companies if the season doesn’t get finished.
“That’s driving every single decision, but it shouldn’t be. The season should have been cancelled weeks ago.”
And the businessman, who has been in self-isolation, believes the uncertainty isn’t doing anyone any good.
“If you have a situation where the season is extended indefinitely, which is what they are saying at the moment, you don’t know how to negotiate contracts,” he said. “You don’t know where to start.
“We might start playing the season again in three months’ time, but we may end up keeping the squad together all that time unnecessarily. Part-time clubs will have contracts that come to an end at the end of April.
Disgrace
“Everyone is going to have to work something out. I said to Michael [Tattersall, National League chief executive] that if we continue like this to August, he won’t have a league to administrate.
“A lot of clubs will go to the wall, they won’t be able to make it through.
“This messing around is unbelievable and the FA have been a disgrace – they have shown zero leadership.”
After reaching the National League play-off final last term and winning the FA Trophy, this season has been a sobering one for the Coasters.
Yet Haythornthwaite maintains his own club’s position plays no part in his reasoning. “There is no
one that would have liked the season to have been played out more than me,” he added.
“We were on a good run and I was confident we were going to get out of this mess.
“But we have to react to all the uncertainty and say the season has to be null and void.
“I don’t think it would be fair for anyone to be promoted or relegated on points per game.”