AFC Fylde sign up to clubs' statement that National League North season should not start behind closed doors without financial support

A large majority of National League North clubs do not wish the season to start behind closed doors unless a financial support package is in place.
AFC Fylde are supporting the majority of clubs in National League North despite taking a different view on starting the season.AFC Fylde are supporting the majority of clubs in National League North despite taking a different view on starting the season.
AFC Fylde are supporting the majority of clubs in National League North despite taking a different view on starting the season.
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This is stated in an open letter from the clubs to the National League, which holds a board meeting this afternoon to consider whether the season should start as planned for its three leagues next month.

The league season for National League North, which includes AFC Fylde, is due to start on Tuesday, October 6, though that was thrown into doubt by this week's Government announcement postponing all plans for spectators to return to sports stadiums.

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Fylde owner David Haythornthwaite, who has called for all clubs to be consulted before the National League makes its decision, was a prime mover behind last night's video conference of NL North clubs which resulted in today's joint-statement.

Most clubs in NL North are not full-time and players' contracts at many clubs will not be activated until the season begins. Fylde are full-time, however, with players on 52-week contracts.

Haythornthwaite says his club would be happy to start the season as planned but will support the majority view and endorse the joint statement.

Haythornthwaite told The Gazette: "Fylde were a club that wanted to go ahead but we have to support the 81 per cent of clubs in our league who do not want to.

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"We think that for the integrity of the competition we should start but we are in a different situation to a lot of clubs because we are paying our players already.

"But this is a decision which should be taken after formal consultation, not a decision for a few people on the league's board.

"The league sailed in on the assumption everything would be fine and is now scrambling around without a plan B."

The whole matter is further complicated as NL North clubs are scheduled to enter the FA Cup three days before their league season is due to begin.

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The full open letter reads: "A meeting was held by Zoom at 17.30 on Wednesday 23rd September 2020 with representation from the majority of member clubs from the National League North to discuss the financial implications of the government’s announcement that supporters will not be allowed entry in to stadiums from the 1st October 2020.

"During the meeting a set of anonymous polls were conducted with the most important question being asked of clubs: Given the simple option, no caveats attached, of starting the season or not without crowds, what would your answer be?

"The majority verdict from 81per cent of clubs in the National League North would be to NOT start the season unless there was a financial support package in place for member clubs.

"The meeting considered the impact of the FA Cup second qualifying round on the contractual status of players, many of whom have contracts that begin on the ‘commencement of the football season’.

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We are sure you are aware that clubs wrote these contracts based on information provided by the FA via the National League.

"The issue is that should there be a delay to the National League North season, then these contracts would be activated by the FA Cup fixture. This would leave clubs exposed to having to pay these players for the rest of the season with obvious financial implications.

"Elite status was debated at length because, as you are aware, National League North and South clubs were granted elite status in July 2020. Therefore, the question was asked why do clubs from Step 1 receive one vote per club and Step 2 only receives four votes per league?

We believe the decision regarding when to start the National League should be democratic across all members due to the financial implications of any decision on member clubs.

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"This is never more apparent following the government’s decision on Tuesday and we request that we should be treated equally and have one vote per club across the whole National League system.

"These are views shared by clubs in the National League North and we ask that they are represented at the National League Board meeting taking place today."

As for a possible rescue package, Haythornthwaite told The Gazette: "There was nothing about sport in the Chancellor's statement today but I have always said there's enough money in football without us going to the Government. The amount Tottenham are paying Gareth Bale per week would cover a National League North club's player wages for a whole season."

And any delay to the start of the league season may not spare clubs having to pay players if their contracts are deemed to begin with the FA Cup second qualifying round a week on Saturday.

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It is Haythornthwaite's view the clubs at Fylde's level should not be entering the FA Cup this season.

He added: "I'm afraid the romance of the FA Cup becomes irrelevant because the prize money is almost a pittance unless you reach the third round. The magic comes from drawing a bigger club and sharing the gate but it's looking like there won't be a gate."