‘No play not an option’ for Jim
HATTERS boss Jim Gannon believes “not playing is not an option”, as the wait goes on for confirmation of the National League start date – ahead of this weekend’s scheduled trip to Torquay United.
After deservedly beating National League North side Kidderminster Harriers 2-1 at Edgeley Park in County’s final preseason fixture on Saturday, focus switched for Gannon and company towards the scheduled start of the 2020/21 National League campaign in the shape of Saturday’s long journey to Torquay.
However, following the Government’s decision to scrap piloting events of up to 1,000 fans back in non-league fixtures last week, the National League are still yet to confirm the start of this season – just three days away as the Express went to print.
League officials were reported to be locked in discussions in a further board meeting on Tuesday evening, with the National League seeking official approval from the Government for a financial support package to its member clubs.
County CEO Jonathan Vaughan stated last week that the League are seeking around £1m a month from the Government to support all clubs whilst fans are not allowed to attend stadia – but, while the wait goes on for confirmation, Gannon was quick to make his and the club’s feelings known.
“I can’t say I’m full of confidence with the National League - and that’s not fully down to the National League themselves. I know some things are out of their control,” he said. “There’s a real appetite from a lot of clubs to get going this weekend - and we feel that not playing is not an option.
“If we play, at least we can generate some income - whether it be live streams, advertising and so on.
“The National League are looking for something from the Government to keep that support in place until a lot of clubs can be self-sufficient as businesses again. I hope that agreement is in place shortly and that we’ll be back playing this weekend.”
For the club’s part, The Hatters confirmed this week that live streaming of all home games will take place, with fans paying £7.50 per fixture to watch the action live.
Season ticket holders are entitled to a full refund, or can keep their season tickets to be first in line when stadia do reopen – and will also then receive a ‘free’ pass to each live stream.
The Express understands that club officials remain confident of the season going ahead this coming Saturday, before The Hatters return to Edgeley Park for a league clash with Halifax Town next Tuesday evening.
Meanwhile, County made it six pre-season wins in a row with the 2-1 comeback win over the Harriers at Edgeley Park on Saturday, with a John Rooney penalty and a late Nyal Bell winner overturning Amari MorganSmith’s early opener.
“It’s a great result to come from behind against a good, experienced side,” said Gannon.
“We made it difficult for them and restricted them to few chances, aside from taking the one chance they had in that first half. We’re going to have situations like that where we can’t just rely on clean sheets or on us getting the first goal.
“We fought our way back into the game slowly but steadily, and the win we earned was fully deserved in the end.”
Bell grabbed his second late winner in as many weeks with a classy finish high into the roof of the net late on, following his bundled last-minute winner in a 1-0 win at York the Saturday prior.
Bell was a second-half substitute in both outings, and boss Gannon – who recently took to social media to reemphasise the club’s belief in the youngster – also reserved a special mention for the former Rochdale forward.
“I’m really pleased for Nyal to get another winning goal, and we’ve kept that momentum going that we’ve had for a number of weeks now throughout pre-season,” he said.
“The work of the whole team put us in a position where if Nyal got himself half a chance and took it, we’d win the game.
“It’s also another substitute grabbing the goal and changing the game. We know that teams will work really hard to match us in games, and we’re then utilising the full squad to really take the game to the opposition and get that full ninety minutes out of the lads.
“We’re finding out more and more who we’ve got that can be ninety-minute players, and who will work incredibly hard and burn themselves out throughout games.”