A year after almost going bust, Heed chairman reveals financial state

Gateshead chairman Neil Pink er ton insists careful financial planning means the club are well placed to survive the coronavirus outbreak in the short term - less than a year after almost going out of existence.

The Heed are facing a number of challenges caused by the suspension of football and are working hard behind the scenes to stay on an even keel.

Pink er ton, who took over as chairman 11 months ago, hopes the National League's decision to end their season will help clubs move forward.

But having helped bring Gates head back from the brink of oblivion last summer with the backing of the Gateshead Soul Supporters Trust and local businessmen, he believes the club is well positioned whatever the future may hold.

"Short term, we don't see too much change," he said. "We will be guided by the government to see when we will be able to restart. We, as a club, are just OK at the moment but that's through the generosity of our shareholders and some careful financial planning.

"There's no businesses that haven't been affected, including Gateshead FC. We had four home games left in the season and two of those were against Darlington and York City and you can imagine the type of crowd sand income that would have brought."

What the outcome for the National League remains undecided, but deciding promotion on a points per game average is a possibility. Leagues at step three to seven have already decided to null and void their season, to the ire of clubs like South Shields and chairman Geoff Thompson, who had hoped for a PPG outcome, and they will be looking on with interest.

Gates head were on the cusp of a play-off place in National League North, one place outside of the zone with games in hand on the teams above them. However, Pinkerton believes if there were one promotion spot, then the league winners should be promoted, as playoffs can't be played now, even if that would mean Gateshead potentially missing out.

Pinkerton added: "People have to remember we are a different organisation to step three. We have different rules.

"I get people's pain given how they have invested heavily in their clubs, but that's where we are. We would accept Kings Lynn going up on PPG as that's probably the fair est way, but to try and conclude the play-offs would put other clubs in danger of extinction and that’s not what we advocate. This season need saline drawn under it and start again when possible."