National League North and South seasons null and void: 'It's a bit of a nightmare'
- Published
National League South promotion contenders Oxford City and Hungerford Town played behind closed doors earlier this month
"It's not the end of the story. It's a big mess."
That was the immediate reaction from Maidstone United chairman Oliver Ash on Thursday evening when it emerged that clubs in the National League North and South had resolved to declare their respective seasons null and void.
The National League meanwhile will complete its campaign despite seven out of the 23 clubs voting to end the season.
But in the tier below, a majority of clubs were clear they could not carry on amid an absence of grant funding and ongoing uncertainty surrounding the lifting of lockdown restrictions.
However, the 19 sides who want the season to continue have written a joint letter to Mark Ives, general manager of the National League, saying they should carry on even if it means joining the divisions.
"The whole thing is a bit of a nightmare," Ash told BBC Radio 5 Live's 72+ Podcast. "It's a 'fait accompli' and we're stuffed.
"This situation is going to go on and I'm not sure how it's going to finish.
"I think there will be a fair bit of legal action from some clubs, there will be a lot of unhappy clubs and there may be some more surprises around the corner."
One of those to have already indicated their disquiet are Gloucester City, leaders of National League North.
Co-chairman Alex Petheram tweeted notice of their intention to begin legal action against Thursday's resolution to null and void the season, which still requires ratification from the Football Association.
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Decisions over promotion and relegation between the National League tiers and the English Football League will also need to be finalised.
Petheram, whose club were five points clear at the top but had played three more games than second-placed AFC Fylde, wants to see promotion and relegation retained.
Maidstone, meanwhile, are mid-table in National League South, but had played as many as six fewer matches than some other clubs because of the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
Maidstone United last played against Hornchurch in the FA Trophy on 6 February
Ash revealed the season curtailment will see them mothball the club's football operations until cleared to restart, while players and coaching staff will be placed on furlough indefinitely.
"There will be a lot of reflection to come out of this whole process," he said.
"The big question will be: 'Was this vote really necessary? Was this the only solution?'
"There should have been more involvement with the clubs, with the chairmen and more transparency from the league to give us more of a chance at finding a better solution."
Many clubs in the North and South divisions admitted the lack of grant funding since 31 December had left them in a dangerous financial position.
The offer to take out low-interest loans in the absence of more grants was out of the question for many.
Chippenham Town chairman Neil Blackmore, speaking before Thursday's resolution was passed, said he was unprepared to put the club into debt just to finish the season.
"We've got no opportunity to pay those debts off at the minute because we can't have fans in," he told BBC Radio Wiltshire.
"The funding we had from the National Lottery before Christmas, we didn't make any money out of it. The directors still had to put money towards it to keep the club running, but it was a great help.
"But we needed to keep on going with that until we could get fans back in."
Paul Doswell (left) guided Havant & Waterlooville, of National League South, to the FA Cup second round this season
Among those who believe they have solutions for the future are Havant & Waterlooville manager Paul Doswell.
The former Eastleigh and Sutton United boss believes a restructure below the National League is the way ahead.
"It needs looking at as, in my opinion, the North and South divisions have been treated like the very, very poor cousins," he told the 72+ Podcast.
"You've got some big clubs in those two divisions, like York City and Maidstone, teams that were getting bigger crowds than some League Two clubs.
"Yet some other clubs, who were getting paying crowds of no more than 400-500 people, were being handed treble the amount in grant funding earlier this season.
"It's become a league of the 'haves' and 'have-nots'."
'Regionalise National League North and South'
Doswell, whose Havant side were ninth in National League South but still in play-off contention with as many as five games in hand on teams around them, wants the National League and the FA to take a pro-active step.
"The way to do it is to bring back local derbies and bigger crowds for next season, dramatically reduce travelling costs," he said.
"You could probably regionalise the National League South into a Premier Division of 24 teams and vice-versa for the North.
"That would give teams at least a couple of years to recover their finances. Why spend about £6,000 to travel to Halifax on a Tuesday night? That's what it costs in this current climate.
"The pandemic has changed everything. I just hope that the people in charge can have some forethought and change things because clubs will really struggle."
Meanwhile, for players and coaching staff, news of a resolution has brought relief, even if they voted against it.
"I'm just pleased it's been underlined almost and stopped," Concord Rangers manager Danny Scopes told BBC Essex.
Concord Rangers reached the first round of the FA Cup this season, where they lost to League Two side Stevenage on penalties
Concord were just two points above the relegation place in National League South but were among a number of clubs in the division who refused to continue playing while uncertainty was in place around funding and Covid-19 testing.
"The mental toughness side of not knowing whether you're in, you're out, whether you're playing or not, has been really difficult for us as a management group," Scopes added.
"I'm quite relieved we've got a decision, whether or not it's the right or wrong decision, as we can just look to plan and come back again stronger next season."
National League North side Chorley had been seventh in the table before the season was halted and spent £30,000 on making sure games went ahead.
The club, who also reached the fourth round of the FA Cup before going out to Premier League side Wolves, have been critical of the way the situation has been dealt with.
"For me the most disappointing thing is how it's all been handled. It's been atrocious," boss Jamie Vermiglio told BBC Radio Lancashire.
"From the top level down to us the communication, or lack of it and lack of clarity on certain things meant that clubs have been left to make their own decisions.
"As an example, we decided we were going to continue and play football, we then committed to fixtures, paying full wages for players, coaches and everything else that comes with matchdays.
"We're now £30,000 down when other clubs, and it's up to them, have made a decision not to play."