NPL plan for more fixture disruptions
League chief factors virus impact into 2021/22 season
RUNCORN Linnets and Widnes FC’s Northern Premier League campaigns remain suspended at the moment but the clubs have received updates from NPL Chairman Mark Harris and the FA.
The League is already planning for the return of football – whether or not that means the current season will be concluded.
And Harris is also factoring in the possibility of further Covidrelated disruptions in the future.
“Following a meeting of the NPL board on Tuesday, I wanted to up-date you on some of the items we discussed, including progress with the outcome of the 2020/21 season,” wrote Harris. “You will shortly receive an update from the FA but, in the meantime, this is what I can tell you.
“The response to the survey was excellent with 224 out of 226 clubs at Steps 3 – 4 taking part. The FA Alliance Committee met on 8th February to review the survey’s results. Similar exercises are going on within the National League and at Steps 5 & 6 via the FA Leagues Committee.
“The Prime Minister’s ‘roadmap to recovery’ is due to be announced on or after 22nd February. We hope this roadmap will include clarification of when non-elite football can resume, and under what conditions. We can then decide upon the outcome of the 2020/21 season. Noone wants to delay this any longer than necessary.
“The pandemic has brought out the best – and worst – in people. It has taught us all new lessons and reinforced others that we already knew. It would be naive to assume that there will not be any further disruption next season, so we must plan for that disruption.
“The Trident Leagues are already looking at how to create the necessary flexibility in the 2021/22 programme to deal with any disruption. These steps may include starting the 2021/22 season earlier and planning fixtures differently to make it much easier to implement an alternate competition should circumstances demand. Obviously, the outcome of the season will also have a major bearing on whether the NLS can be re-structured ahead of next season.
“After protracted discussions with government, the Winter Survival Fund has made £10m, in grants available to clubs at Steps 3 – 6. Step 3 clubs can access up to £27,000 and Step 4 clubs up to £15,000.
“A further pot of £4m is available to help clubs for whom these amounts are not enough to prevent closure.
“Whilst far from perfect, the WSF is a step in the right direction. Its major flaw is that, as highlighted to government, the WSF disadvantages financially prudent clubs. Government’s response is that the fund’s purpose is to stop any club going under.
“The WSF is not a handout. Government wants to focus taxpayers’ money on keeping clubs alive. We need to bear in mind that government’s long-standing position was to offer loans only until they were finally persuaded otherwise.
“To date, 251 clubs have applied for £2.9m. Roughly half of NPL clubs have made applications. Applications being fasttracked; some clubs have received offer letters.”
With regards to the FA Trophy, Harris added: “Together with the Southern League, the NPL has been pressing the FA to compensate non-elite clubs that made a loss in this season’s FA Trophy ties when playing elite clubs BCD or in playing other non-elite clubs.
“I am hopeful that there will be positive news on this shortly and will keep you posted.”
On the Trident Community
Fund, he stated: “The board considered and endorsed a number of applications shortlisted by the sub-committee that evaluated all applications for funding from the new Trident Community Fund.
“Six applications have now made it through the first two stages of approval and will be considered by the main Trident Community Fund board, which includes the other Trident Leagues, representatives of our main sponsor and an independent chair. This group meets next week so applicants, successful or otherwise, should be notified shortly afterwards.
“I recognise that clubs want as much information as possible during times of uncertainty. I have tried to share all I can right now without breaking confidentiality. Hopefully, the situation will be much clearer by the end of this month.”