Havant & Waterlooville waiting to discover the devil in the detail as Government agrees National League rescue package

The future of the three leagues – the National League and the National League South and North – had been in doubt after plans to allow spectators into grounds were shelved last week.

The 2020-21 season is due to begin on Saturday, but it was feared that without Government intervention many of the 67 clubs could have faced financial ruin if they did not have matchday revenue to rely on.

Several clubs were vocal in their calls for a Government rescue package and talks with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) over a bailout have been fruitful, with money due to be sent over before the weekend.

The final amount and how the clubs will be paid is still being finalised. But replying to a question in the House of Commons today, Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston said: ‘Funding will be focused on those most in need and it will be based on the loss of gate receipts.’

The National League had asked for a monthly package running into several millions, with a six-month package topping £30m.

‘We are very grateful for whatever we get, but we don’t know any detail yet,’ Hawks director Trevor Brock said this morning.

‘We’ve heard there is a package but we don’t know how much or how it will be distributed.

‘We don’t know what methodology will be used to distribute the money.

‘It’s the best news we’ve had in ages - we’re told we’re getting something, but we don’t yet know how much.’

The National League is set to start on Saturday, while National League South and North clubs are in FA Cup qualifying action.

It is understood some South and North clubs had been contemplating pulling out of the FA Cup had no financial package been agreed before the weekend.

For some clubs, as soon as a ball is kicked in competitive action that triggers players’ contracts.

Prior to last week, all National League clubs had been planning on starting the season with a limited number of spectators present.

Hawks, for example, had sold 500 season tickets.

‘We had all committed ourselves to starting with 600 or 1,000 or a percentage of the stadium,’ said Brock.

‘We have spent thousands upon thousands making our ground Covid-safe.

‘The Government have put us in this position, so it’s only right they pay the clubs.

‘The Government have been uneducated in the ways of non-league football.’

Brock has spoken to officials at fellow National League clubs in recent weeks and added: ‘There’s a lot of panicky people.

‘It’s like any league. Pompey will survive as they have wealthy owners, but other clubs in their league will be living hand to mouth.

‘We are comparatively well off compared to some clubs at our level, but then again we have bigger overheads.

‘Some clubs will be living hand to mouth.

‘The only income we’ve had is from the (Westleigh) pub, and that’s been operating on a limited capacity.

‘It’s a very diffcult picture wherever you look.’

National League South and North clubs will be hoping for a fairly equal distribution of the Government grant.

Inevitably, though, the National League clubs - with their predominantly bigger fanbases - will pocket the lion’s share.

Every year the Premier League provide a £125m ‘solidarity’ payment to the EFL and National League. There is no money for any clubs at step 3 (Southern League) or below.

Earlier this year, at the start of the pandemic, the PL advanced the £125m which was due to paid this month.

Of that sum, only £2m dribbled down to the National League. And while National League clubs banked the best part of £60,000 each, clubs at Hawks’ level received around £13,500 each.

Clubs will be eager to see if the same disparity occurs with the Government aid package.

But if it is distributed on a pro-rata basis, determined on last season’s average league attendances, Hawks will end up with more cash than some National League clubs.

In 2019/20 Hawks averaged 1,386 at Westleigh Park, a higher figure than seven of the 24 step 1 clubs - including promoted Harrogate Town.

It would obviously be unfair if clubs like Oxford City (2019/20 average crowd 353), Hungerford (386) and Eastbourne Borough (546) received the same aid package as Hawks, Dulwich Hamlet (2,194) and Maidstone (1,814).

Huddleston said that while the Government are helping non-league clubs, they are ‘asking the Premier League to support EFL clubs, the higher end of the football pyramid.

“We have asked for detailed financial returns from all major spectator sports to see what support they need. We expect those returns by the end of today and any club in immediate financial distress should alert their sports’ governing body.’

Tory former Sports Minister Tracey Crouch said “there are fires raging around the whole sector”.

She told the Commons: ‘To be honest, it has been difficult to see precisely where the support is coming from.

‘But the urgency of the question related to the National League starting on Saturday, and therefore the reassurances are welcome, but it is disappointing that there is no specific announcement as of yet as to what and when the league will receive.’

Responding for the Government, Huddleston said: ‘I can’t give the details today … because we’re working on those details as I speak.’

The top-earning 100 footballers in the country should be asked to donate a week’s wages to support community clubs, ministers were today told.

Labour’s Chris Evans first proposed expanding community ownership for sports clubs before suggesting the creation of a trust funded by high-earning footballers.

He told the Commons: ‘I wonder has the minister thought of more innovative ways of raising finance by creating some sort of community trust where we ask the top earning 100 footballers in this country – some are earning £350,000 a week, £500,000 a week – to just donate one week’s wages to a trust, which then can be distributed amongst struggling clubs to ensure communities can still enjoy their football.’

Huddleston replied: ‘Both now and in the future I encourage all stakeholders in sports to do the right thing and play their part, and he’s making some good points about voluntary donations as well as what we will be requiring and expecting from sport at various levels.

‘He’s also highlighting some innovative models and business models which again I think should be looked at very, very carefully.’