‘There is nothing in the pot now’ says Hawks director after staff and players are paid their March salaries

Hawks director Trevor Brock has called on the football authorities to show some 'leadership and guidance' amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Hawks players have been paid their March salaries. Their April wages are another matter entirely. Photo by Dave HainesHawks players have been paid their March salaries. Their April wages are another matter entirely. Photo by Dave Haines
Hawks players have been paid their March salaries. Their April wages are another matter entirely. Photo by Dave Haines

Clubs in the non-league pyramid are facing uncertain futures following the blanket ban on the game in the UK due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

But Brock bemoaned a lack of necessary information currently being provided by both the National League and FA about how clubs can move forward.

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The Hawks have paid all staff on the wage bill for this month.

Yet Brock admitted there is now 'nothing left in the pot' for April.

And with the Westleigh Park club likely to be one of many non-league clubs in the same situation, he stressed the football authorities must now step in.

‘We said we were going to do that regardless (paying staff this month),' said Brock.

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‘Even though we’ve got nothing coming in, we’ve got what we’ve got.

‘We’ve paid the players already for this month.

'The next one is going to be a bit hard.

‘It’s alright people saying the government will cover 80 per cent, but we’ve had absolutely nothing in regard to government schemes.

‘Until you actually see it working, it’s a difficult one.

‘We’ve stretched ourselves to pay the March wage bill.

‘There really is nothing in the pot now.

'We’re taking this month on the trust that next month we’re going to have some help.

‘But there’s absolutely nothing firm whatsoever.

'We’re desperately looking for leadership and guidance from those above us.

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‘We’ve heard next to nothing from the FA and the National League.

‘They’re all operating in a vacuum.

'It needs to be fed down to the clubs so that they understand a bit more about how they can move forward.'

It appears as though the Hawks and other teams in the non-league pyramid will not kick a ball again this season.

Board meetings held this week via video conference have seemingly determined the campaign will be cancelled.

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But whether clubs are still in existence come the 2020/21 season - whenever that may be - could be a real issue.

‘There’s nobody now at the football club, we’ve basically closed it down completely,' Brock added.

‘But all of that is minor compared to the problem.

‘You’ve just got to work your way through and hope everything will be alright in the end.

‘The whole aim for the football club is to ensure we have a football club at the end of this.

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‘Whether that means we’re promoted because we finished second or we stay where we are if things are null and void.

'Everyone is waiting for the EFL to make some decisions.'

Clubs in the National League, Northern Premier League, Isthmian League and Southern League have been asked by the FA to fill in a questionnaire detailing the financial impact they are predicting.

Basically, the impact they are predicting is dire.

The National League are believed to be lobbying the FA for £17m to distribute to their 68 clubs - £250,000 for each of them, including Hawks.

That amount, however, might still be unable to stop redundancies, leave suppliers unpaid or, realistically, stop some from heading to the wall. And, of course, it’s not yet guaranteed either.

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Dulwich Hamlet chairman Ben Clasper believes the FA need to step in and help safeguard National League clubs’ futures.

‘What you're asking the FA for is the equivalent of the annual salary of one top Premier League player to save 68 clubs and make sure 3,000 people are paid,’ he explained.

"These clubs are right at the heart of their community.’