National League funding crisis: ‘Clubs in the North are being greedy’ says South club CEO

The National League, and its 66 member clubs, are grappling with the options for keeping their season open – or indeed, for shutting it down. And this week, they have been presented with a set of crucial votes.

Never mind the ifs and buts. It comes down to a couple of questions. Should the season end now? And can the three separate divisions decide their own fate – or will they find a decision thrust upon them?

At the top, the step 1 National League seems virtually certain to continue. Clubs in that division are bigger – most are full-time – and they are desperate to maintain their promotion pathway to the EFL’s Division Two.

At Havant & Waterlooville’s step 2 level, opinions are more divided. Many National North clubs, weary of the struggle to stay open without spectators, are ready to shut up shop and start afresh next season. But in National South the mood is more optimistic.

High-fliers Dorking Wanderers – who have built a squad designed for promotion including ex-Hawks Jason Prior, Ed Harris, Wes Fogden and Alfie Rutherford – are urging their fellow clubs to vote yes to keeping the season alive. Why abandon a winning momentum, and – even for clubs lower down the table – why give up now on a league programme which has succeeded against the odds?

This week, all clubs have been weighing up the options. Votes on a series of propositions are imminent – because of a technicality in National League rules, clubs have 28 days, but in reality the key decisions will probably be clear by this weekend.

Did we just say clear? Like some hidden clue in the Agatha Christie plot that you very nearly missed, the issue is that all clubs need to agree – and a No can cancel a Yes. What if National South votes to press on, but National North opts to shut down? Could one division really soldier on? What if, in Hawks’ division, 15 clubs want to continue but half-a-dozen clubs refuse to play on?

By a wry coincidence, the National League’s daunting bundle of resolution options landed in clubs’ inboxes on Monday evening – part-way through the infamous BBC2 Intellectual Night of Mastermind, Only Connect and University Challenge. By comparison, those shows are child’s play….

But what of the great minds in the National League South. Across the Hampshire/Sussex border, Hawks’ league rivals Eastbourne Borough are enjoying a successful campaign – they won 2-1 at Westleigh Park last month and could have won by a lot more – and they are not minded to give up now.

Borough CEO John Bonar said: ‘We are looking at the finer detail, but we have not ruled out continuing, even with the proposed loans replacing the previous Government grant support. We’ve been prudent, and our financial commitments for January were all covered.

‘Some clubs in the North are being greedy. They want more funding than is realistically on the table. Just one example is their Covid-19 testing. In fact every club had a £15,000 grant at the start of the season, to include testing.

‘If they spent that money on other things, then more fool them.

‘Now those clubs in National North are saying they’ll refuse to play this Saturday as instructed. But the South is looking more positive – I believe only three, possibly four clubs in our division want to end the season now.’

Slough, Bath City, Tonbridge and Dulwich have so far publicly said they want the South season curtailed.

‘The only way we can continue playing football is if we vote en bloc,’ explained Bonar.

‘The 23 National League clubs have a vote each, but the South and North have just four votes between them in each division. Now, to reach the required 75% majority and carry on, we need four Yes votes from the South. It will be tight.’

Is there a scenario where the National South continues, but not the North? ‘We’ve asked that question, but I can’t see it. Logistically it has to be all or nothing.’

And can Borough stay afloat financially, with no crowds and with the previous grant withdrawn? ‘We are waiting to get the finer details. But the terms of the Sport England loan are not unfavourable. It would extend over either ten or twenty years, at low interest and with an initial repayment holiday of up to four years.

‘When you apply, it is not for a grant or a loan, but for funding. It can be a hybrid. You submit your needs, and that is what is considered.

‘We budget cautiously as a club, and we have enough in the bank now to pay the players. If we are given a Sport England loan, it could certainly be put to good use, as at any other club, but our financial position is pretty robust.’

He added: ‘We are trying to explore all options and all opportunities. We have worked so hard this far, and we’re not about to throw in the towel.

‘Priory Lane is a football ground, and our football season is not dead yet.’

In the North division, Boston United boss Craig Elliott can see both sides of the argument and hopes the clubs can 'stick together' and remain respectful in the long term.

‘Getting news in drips fires everyone up and I can see the clubs having a go at each other, which isn't healthy,’ he said.

‘We have got to stick together as clubs and, as the National League, and unite a bit.

‘You shouldn't be insulted because you want to finish a season, that's a positive thing. But, in the same breath, I totally understand teams who don't want to play because of their own reasons.

‘Again, this all comes because there's no leadership and clarity. It's all speculation.’

AFC Fylde have criticised North rivals Southport and Hereford for being happy to play FA Trophy ties this weekend – which bring financial rewards, win or lose – but want the league season finished.

Those two clubs were among 12 from the North division who put their names to a statement earlier in the week asking the league to curtail a pandemic-scarred 2020/21.

A hard-hitting Fylde statement read: Two of the teams who are signatories to Guiseley’s joint statement are prepared to play in their FA Trophy fixtures this Saturday, but have the hypocrisy to declare themselves unavailable to fulfil their league fixtures on the following Tuesday.

‘We are astounded that when prize money and an opportunity to progress in an FA competition is at stake, those Clubs deem it safe to compete.

‘We strongly believe the picking and choosing of which fixtures to fulfil is a slap in the face of those fighting to continue.

‘Clubs, such as ourselves, are doing everything in their power to overcome each obstacle that presents itself, while others aren’t.

‘We sincerely hope that the National League take a tough line on those taking this stance, as we believe cherry-picking which fixtures to fulfil is bringing the game into disrepute and severely damaging the integrity of the competition.’

by Kevin Anderson. Additional reporting by Duncan Browne and Simon Carter.