Boiling point!

That is the headline on The Non-League Paper's coverage of the National League crisis.   Clubs will have to decide tomorrow what happens to the rest of the season, although the League's preference is for the season to continue.   

It is possible that Step 1 will continue, but not Step 2.   Less likely, but just about possible, is that National League South would continue but not the North.   My sense is that more clubs in the south think they are in a position to continue.

For example, Dorking Wanderers have stated that they have £500,000 of sponsorship and commercial revenue.   Their suggestion is that individual clubs could be allowed to opt out.

The repayment terms for loans are two per cent interest over ten years with a two year holiday on interest and capital or a four year holiday and repayments up to 20 years.

Sport England will decide whether some clubs might get a mixture of grants and loans.

My view remains that it would be unfortunate if the season was to end for Leamington, but I do not know the size of the financial gap.   I have been in touch with the board to offer funding and hope to have a further conversation after the league comes to a decision.

Courtney goes to The Hive

Courtney Baker-Richardson has joined Barnet on loan from Barrow: https://www.barnetfc.com/news/2021/january/welcome-to-barnet-courtney-baker-richardson/?fbclid=IwAR20j5pXn_FgS8SAuljLFn2RSLuAwE5gPFsB6SAjif-HO6p9_0HMMn8RShI

The Barnet story acknowledges that his greatest success in scoring goals was at Leamington.

Wishing Courtney all the best in this later step in his career.   He has certainly seen a lot of England and Wales!

Season to come to an end?

Unconfirmed reports are stating that the DCMS intends to provide £14m of funding to Step 3-6 clubs mainly in the form of grants.  National League clubs will get £11m mainly in the form of loans.

National League clubs will then have to vote on whether to end the season, currently suspended for two weeks.

A detailed analysis of the situation is available here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55818377?fbclid=IwAR02S9uxgRfl6tortFohZ3t8rsN_A0Z8znzRLXHeXgL32ART9S_3ifl19Co

If the season is ended, there needs to be thought about how the team can be held together and maintain fitness for a hoped for resumption in August.   It is unfortunate that this has all happened when we have been putting in some good performances.

I am uncertain what will happen to the FA Trophy.

Chesterfield's MP has asked for grant support to keep the National League going: https://planetradio.co.uk/greatest-hits/north-derbyshire/news/national-league-funding-chesterfield-fc-toby-perkins/

Tier 1 clubs want season to continue

The majority of Tier 2 National League clubs wanted to take a short break, while Tier 1 clubs wanted the season to continue without interruption, according to The Non-League Paper this morning.

The report also notes, 'clubs are facing up to the reality that further funding for the season will be through government loans despite continued lobbying for the money to be shared as grants.'

The idea of the National League taking on a loan to pass on to clubs has been taken off the table as the overwhelming majority of clubs oppose it.

There is an interview with Leamington chairman Jim Scott. He emphasised the need for definite answers by the end of the two week suspension. He said: 'I know some clubs are close to being insolvent or unable to continue now, for other clubs that will happen in a month.'

A DCMS statement makes it clear that their view is that National League funding was not promised as grants.  They add: 'If any individual Step 1 and Step 2 National League club can demonstrate it is in critical need of support and would be unable to repay a loan, grant applications will be assessed on a case by case basis.  They will, of course, be subject to the same rigorous process that we apply to other sports.'

Jim Scott's perception was that any need for funding post-December would be in the form of grants.  It appears that the National League and FA have a  different interpretation of the meeting that took place with DCMS'.

The DCMS secretary of state is a relatively junior Cabinet minister and is also being pressured from other directions for money, e.g., festivals want a government backed insurance scheme.   At some point the Government is going to want to stop incurring further liabilities.

Stepping up to the plate

The board of Leamington FC faces some difficult choices.  They are in possession of all the relevant information so anything I say is from behind a veil of ignorance.

I think that the classification of the National League North and Soith has created some problems, albeit it has allowed us to continue playing.   Some clubs are full-time like moneybags AFC Fylde, but many are community clubs like us.

One thing I am sure about is that the secretary of state will not be persuaded to turn loans into grants.  The Government is already heavily in debt and giving money to football clubs is not generally popular.   If money is given it should really be focused on community clubs contributing through training schemes for youngsters etc.

A judgment about whether to accept loans or not is a difficult call.  I just think it is unfortunate to suspend the season when we are doing so well.   Will it be possible to reassemble the team in the summer?   What will happen to Hollers?  We will incur some fixed costs anyway: the pitch has to be maintained and the electricity supply, such as it is, connected.

Last summer fans raised over £30k for the club.   I only put in a few hundred then but if the board gives the green light I am willing to put in a four figure sum and I don't mean £1k.   I hope others would step up to the plate as well.   After all, I would rather give it to the club than to the taxman in a rumoured wealth tax,

Since I wrote this post, the National League has been suspended for two weeks.  Fans hope this will put some pressure on the secretary of state.   I am sceptical, but hope they are right.  It is possible he might come up with a face saving formula where clubs were given money for their community facing activities.

Poppies boss wanted to replay second half tonight

Poppies boss Paul Cox has his say about last night's extraordinary events at the Community Stadium: https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/logic-and-common-sense-went-out-window-says-poppies-boss-cox-after-ridiculous-night-fa-trophy-3106226

It will be interesting to see how the same journalist writes this up for the Courier.   Paul Holleran's comments have now appeared: https://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/sport/football/mixed-feelings-victorious-brakes-boss-holleran-after-bizarre-evening-3106328

Joe Dunham's report is now available and it is full of praise for the football skills of the Brakes under Paul Holleran: https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/kettering-town-0-leamington-3-jon-dunhams-review-3106551

I do not think the second half could have been replayed tonight as Dunham suggests because there has been heavy rain (as forecast) and even our pitch couldn't cope.

As for the incident involving the Klattering captain, there are different versions of this, but it is at least possible that he touched the referee which is not permitted.

I understand that the FA had an observer at the match which is just as well.

Happy days are here again (sort of)

Congratulations to the team on a win against giant killers Chorley in freezing conditions last night.  I wasn't able to see the match, but here is a rather grudging report from the home side: https://www.chorleyfc.com/2021/01/12/recap-leamington-h/?fbclid=IwAR0_suWfbfV04RzagMTpnI4f0RsMSWRLi-JyVuRi2S8UufWCGGpr4ML5mvI

This has been one of our best spells on the pitch for some time, but for understandable reasons we can't enjoy it in person.  Mind you on a freezing day, I don't mind a stream.

Osborne goes

Sam Osborne has joined ambitious AFC Fylde for an undisclosed fee.  He has been a great player for us and I wish him well for the future.   Holleran knows how to spot talent that has been neglected and can be developed.

Some fans have expressed disappointment.   They knew he was going, but hoped it wouldn't be to another club in our own division.  AFC Fylde, of course, think they are entitled to play in the EFL.

I would describe their ambition as 'vaulting ambition over reaching itself' to misquote Shakespeare, but then I am not one of their supporters.  They did get relegated from the National League.

Another great product was Colby Bishop who scored two goals against my league club Charlton to win the game for Accrington Stanley last night.  The defence handed him the opportunities on a plate, but he took them with great composure and was a threat throughout the game.

My match preview pointed out that he would be a threat: https://addicksdiary3.blogspot.com/2021/01/bishops-move-for-accrington.html

They were full of praise for Colby on The Football League Show on Sunday, not just for his goals on Friday.

Barking mad

2020 was an eventful year in football to say the least.   Amid all the understandable concerns about health and safety and finances, a little light relief was provided by a story in The Non-League Paper headed 'Barking mad as dog ends a match.'

The United Counties Premier Division match between Leicester Nirvana and local rivals GNG Oadby Town appears to have been a fiery affair with two players having been sent off.

Then a large Alsatian belonging to a home supporter repeatedly invaded the pitch.   The owner did not respond to requests to bring his dog under control.   The owner and dog then stood in front of the opposition technical area for three minutes and refused to budge, despite coaxing from match officials.

With 12 minutes left to play the match had to be abandoned.

Before the pandemic I received pictures on Twitter of well-behaved 'non-league dogs' attending games.  Indeed, more than one dog attended Leamington matches and the most frequent attender wore colours and took a keen interest in the game.