LEAGUE HOLD TESTING TALKS AS A CRUNCH VOTE LOOMS
Fate of season set to be decided
NATIONAL LEAGUE chiefs have held positive talks over government support for Covid testing across the three divisions – as clubs get set to vote on whether to continue or terminate the current season.
A decision could be made as soon as this week with the 66 member clubs expecting to receive a resolution tomorrow on what should happen with their knowledge of the Sport Winter Survival Package (SWSP).
It comes following the confirmation there will be no blanket government grants, unless in exceptional circumstances, with clubs able to apply through the scheme for low interest loans with repayment terms of up to 20 years.
Sport England are distributing the SWSP across a range of sports on behalf of the government and they met with National League clubs via Zoom on Friday morning – with a further session on Tuesday – to communicate the programme.
The standard repayment terms are two per cent interest over ten years with a twoyear holiday on interest and capital with the option of a four-year holiday and repayments up to 20 years.
It is also possible for clubs to receive a mixture of loans and grants depending on their individual circumstances as assessed by Sport England.
Another concern among clubs has surrounded Covid testing for players and staff. Currently it is not mandatory but there have been calls to fall more in-line with fellow ‘elite’ competitions, the Premier League and EFL.
It’s understood positive discussions have been held over a wider testing programme that would consist of lateral flow antigen tests, designed to flag up potential infection in asymptomatic people.
Principles
Opinions on continuing or stopping the season vary among clubs across the three divisions. Some are adamant they will not take on any form of loan to continue operating, while others are determined the season should be played to completion. It is possible there could be different outcomes at each Step.
The National League have long stated their aim to get 66 clubs through the season and interim general manager Mark Ives told The NLP: “Sport England held a meeting last week, and there’s another one this week, that explains the principles of the Sport Winter Survival Package. That enabled clubs to ask questions about the detail of it, which will help them in making a decision on a resolution that will be released on Monday.
“From the league’s side, we very much hope all 66 clubs are able to continue and would encourage all clubs to consider options before making a decision to end their season.
“But, in the end, it has to be a matter for the clubs to determine and for each Step to consider their own destiny.”
Scrutiny
Step 2 is currently midway through a two-week suspension after clubs were surveyed for their views when it emerged the £11m set aside for the SWSP would not be distributed as blanket grants.
Clubs had been under the impression further grant support would be forthcoming if crowds were still banned from stadiums because of coronavirus, as they were when they agreed to start the season in October thanks to a £10m deal through the National Lottery promotional fund that was brokered by the DCMS.
That money covered the opening three months of the season. The DCMS insist no promises of further grants were ever made.
Sports Minster Nigel Huddleston wrote to clubs last Thursday to explain the SWSP scheme’s objective of ensuring clubs’ survival and underlining that all sports must be treated equally and clubs must open their books in order to receive public money.
He wrote: “No decisions can be made – for loans or grants – until clubs have opened up their books (as those who have approached us already have done). All applications to the programme will be subject to a consistent and rigorous assessment, applied proportionately to the scale of your request.
“I am sure you will agree that it is fair and reasonable to have this level of scrutiny where public funding, and particularly grants, are involved.”