Tigers chairman puts forward ‘mini-league’ idea

GLOUCESTER City co-chairman Alex Petheram has suggested a promotion ‘mini-league’ as a way of concluding the National League North and South seasons – and has offered to host the finals at Meadow Park, writes Mark Halliwell.

With clubs in the two divisions voting on whether to carry on the season or declare it null and void, Petheram says he is keen to find a resolution which allows those who want to stop playing to stop, while allowing those who want to carry on to do so as well.

Paul Groves’ side hold a six-point lead at the top of the National League North table, and are due to host FA Cup heroes Chorley tomorrow.

In the National North, Gloucester, Chorley, York, Boston and Fylde all want the season to carry on, but Gateshead, Chester, Kettering, Farsley, Spennymoor, Telford, Bradford Park Avenue, Southport, Darlington and Blyth have voted to end it.

The picture is different in the South division as Dartford, Dorking, Hungerford, Eastbourne, Ebbsfleet, Havant & Waterlooville, Chelmsford,

Hemel Hempstead and Concord Rangers all want to continue, while Bath City, Slough, Maidstone and Tonbridge want the season scrapped.

In a statement posted on Twitter, Petheram wrote: “With the current club voting taking place across the pyramid, the final result appears to be very close, looking at how clubs have publicly declared they have voted. In the South, it is very clear that clubs want to play football.

“I’m still very keen to find a resolution that isn’t as final as making clubs play if they don’t want to – the reasons for which I fully understand and accept – and stopping clubs that want to play.

“I hope some sort of solution can be found that allows clubs to stop if they have voted to do so, or to play on. For example, a promotion-only mini-league – two mini-leagues, with finals to allow teams to gain promotion. The finals can be played at Gloucester, free of charge to the league or clubs as we are in the middle of the country and yo-yo between the North and South.

“I feel clubs in the North especially felt this vote would be a landslide and it appears that hasn’t happened.”