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Post by bob666 on Sept 11, 2020 4:36:12 GMT
Part of the reason Cambridge v Carlisle was cancelled was that it was initially meant to have a crowd of 2000. However, this had to reduced to 1000 after recent events and it was felt that too difficult to partly recall tickets and easier to go fully behind closed doors.
I no special insight but I think there more chance we don't start in October than we do. Thing is I don't see any reason why November or December are likely to be any better than October. So maybe we need to start planning for no 2020/1 season. Given this was always the most likely outcome I assume all the playing staff contracts will have break clauses
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Post by lagerman on Sept 11, 2020 8:32:56 GMT
It's funny, but most certainly not in the ha-ha sense, but when there was all the "umming and arring" about when this next season could possibly start, before it was all decided, l thought about this a long time ago and said to one of my friends that perhaps the 2020/2021 season should be cancelled and we should just start again next year with the 2021/2022 season next August, when by then we should hopefully be in a much safer situation. But logistically l also know that there are the pressures out there to get the economy going again, to get everything going again, and that is why we are where we are with things
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Post by casper on Sept 11, 2020 14:59:59 GMT
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Post by bob666 on Sept 11, 2020 23:40:20 GMT
I wonder if it makes sense to treat the full National League and the National Leagues South/North as the same. Step 3 are allowed 600 supporters. As a averagely supported conference south side we could probably manage on that. If you discount the very cheap tickets we sell as part of the various schools promotions and local derbies that is our lot anyway. I guess attendances will fall anyway this year as certain fans exercise caution, away support falls and through the lack of any 'walk up' as matches go all ticket. Not sure this would work for step 1 (can you run a fulltime club on 600?) but maybe conference south/north could ask to return on the same basis (grassroots maximum of 600) that tier 3 clubs are already playing?
In terms of finances I wonder if part-time non-league is actually in a slightly better position than full time clubs. As I understand it almost all players are only on one year deals. Any semi sensible club will have included covid related break clause when renegotiating over the summer. So if the season is called off you can quickly get your playing costs down to almost zero. Given that attendances only partially cover running costs anyway you might actually find that the club losses less money not playing. Not that I want the season cancelled just that might not be a existential threat.
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Post by ahad43 on Sept 12, 2020 7:27:40 GMT
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Post by Hatboy on Sept 13, 2020 10:21:24 GMT
.....
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Post by EFMTFTV on Sept 13, 2020 22:51:27 GMT
It seems like the teams that were contesting the play offs / in automatic promotion spots decided we were 'elite' so we have been bunged in with the premier and football leagues and now this is why we can't have crowds This was the only way the play offs could have happened Elite sports teams are behind closed doors
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Post by bob666 on Sept 18, 2020 5:12:21 GMT
As I understand it the plan is to restart in October with crowds of up to 1000 but this has not been agreed by government. Also all football (even grassroots) is now behind closed doors in the Northeast. Does anyone know the timeline for decisions? Surely it best for everyone if this was made relatively quickly as it just causes chaos leaving things to the last minute.
one thing I have noticed is that controlled reopening seem failed across society. So 10 days or so after eateries reopened you never really have known we were in a pandemic when you walked in as they seemed as crowded as ever, most shops don't really try and enforce mask mandates etc. If you look at some of the stuff that has gone on around Doncaster racing it hardly supports reopening sports. In making argument for a return football needs to welcome rather than try and minimise controls- 2m+ distancing, compulsory masks, I would argue no away fans etc- so that a return can be sustainable. There no point reopening only for certain games to be linked to outbreaks and be shut down again in a few weeks.
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Post by saint68 on Sept 18, 2020 7:06:58 GMT
All sensible stuff, but I have a sinking feeling that the Government will be introducing some kind of “lockdown lite” and that spectators at football will be one of the first casualties. I hope I’m wrong because the potential effects on Clubs below the Premier League is frightening.
What will really annoy me is if we can’t go to football but can still go to the pub. I know which one I’d feel safer at!
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Post by casper on Sept 18, 2020 16:11:20 GMT
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Post by casper on Sept 18, 2020 16:14:56 GMT
St Albans district has received a red flag with covid cases on the rise. Not looking good for the start of the season.
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Post by bob666 on Sept 22, 2020 4:15:52 GMT
www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/sep/21/covid-spike-leads-government-to-pause-return-of-fans-to-sports-stadiumsAs expected a start in early October looks implausible. One question what happens to the FA Cup. I assume these games still go ahead but what are National League clubs meant to do? Keep a squad together, and presumably pay them, while the league is suspended so they can play in the odd cup game? play a youth side or withdraw from the competition? Even in a best case outcome a return any time this side of December seems implausible. I know its a radical idea but could we half the number of league games- so instead of playing every team home and away you play half at home and half away (generated randomly)? I saw clip of 'hashtag' united FA cup game on the BBC website and during the pens everyone crowded behind the goal and the players ran into the crowd celebrating. If we want to make a case for football returning fans and players have got a collective responsibility to self police. Unfortunately the games I seen from France and this make it difficult to argue for a return. It not that hard to work out the better we can observe social distancing guidelines the less things need to be shut down. one thing might be to let fans back in but no away fans and withdraw permission from clubs who fail to enforce guidelines properly. Even in a best case outcome
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Post by gazza2402 on Sept 22, 2020 5:37:38 GMT
I think we will find out more tonight from our illustrious leader , if pubs and restaurants are allowed to remain open and food shops where the social distancing is not that great and that is indoors I see no reason why outside spectators all be it at reduced capacity and social distancing is in place that the season could not begin. I do agree however with no away fans and masks worn as well , but guess time will tell.
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boojiboy
Saints Reserve Team Player
Posts: 329
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Post by boojiboy on Sept 22, 2020 6:08:06 GMT
I went to Chesham on Saturday. About 75% of the crowd acted responsibly maintaining a social distance. The remaining 25% carried on as normal including a large group behind the goal who spent both halves bunched together and completely ignoring the regular tannoy announcements asking them to socially distance in groups of no more then 6. The stewarding was also non-existent. Throw in the young children who spend the whole game being allowed to run around the ground which is annoying at non- pandemic times.
On paper, games can be arranged on a safe basis but sadly in reality, this is very difficult to achieve.
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Post by bob666 on Sept 22, 2020 6:39:36 GMT
I see the point people make if pubs are open why not football. I not saying I disagree but if you shut down bars and eateries that over half of million jobs and billions in tax revenue. At some point you may have to but you don't have to pro-government to understand hesitation. Whereas keeping non-league closed has quite a limited broader economic impact, so if you think it might help control the virus its quite a easy option. Not saying I agree it is just that I sort of understand the rationale. My own view is rather than taking broad sector wide decisions you should introduce more a system of covid licences. So bars/football clubs etc that maintain good standards should be allowed to open but there should be a real threat of sanction for any firm/club/organisation that does not obey the rules. We have really applied individual sanctions before facing a new collective lockdown. If we acted a few weeks ago against pubs/restaurants who were not really enforcing best practice we would now be faced with the prospect of a new lockdown and we might be able to get back to football.
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Post by Saint on Sept 22, 2020 8:04:33 GMT
Doesn't look good at the moment - www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54240644"The new National League season will not start on 3 October if fans are not able to attend, BBC Sport understands. With cases of Covid-19 rising, a planned programme of test events prior to a phased and partial return of supporters at sports venues from 1 October is set to be scrapped. National League clubs have been told that if supporters are not allowed to attend, their season will not begin."
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Post by lagerman on Sept 22, 2020 10:28:02 GMT
Doesn't look good at the moment - www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54240644"The new National League season will not start on 3 October if fans are not able to attend, BBC Sport understands. With cases of Covid-19 rising, a planned programme of test events prior to a phased and partial return of supporters at sports venues from 1 October is set to be scrapped. National League clubs have been told that if supporters are not allowed to attend, their season will not begin." Will we actually know today from the Governments plans being announced by the PM or will it be something that just follows in the next day or two ?
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Post by Saint on Sept 22, 2020 10:48:09 GMT
Doesn't look good at the moment - www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54240644"The new National League season will not start on 3 October if fans are not able to attend, BBC Sport understands. With cases of Covid-19 rising, a planned programme of test events prior to a phased and partial return of supporters at sports venues from 1 October is set to be scrapped. National League clubs have been told that if supporters are not allowed to attend, their season will not begin." Will we actually know today from the Governments plans being announced by the PM or will it be something that just follows in the next day or two ? Michael Gove has already said this morning on breakfast TV that the trial will not start.
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Post by lagerman on Sept 22, 2020 13:11:05 GMT
So now we're in the lap of the gods with this, if going by the PM's speech about the restrictions is anything to go by. How long the restrictions go on for and if further restrictions have to be applied ? Worst case scenario is that it all carries on for weeks or months, our season would be dead in the water
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Post by headcontainer on Sept 22, 2020 17:46:17 GMT
Better to be safe than sorry
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Post by lagerman on Sept 22, 2020 19:48:07 GMT
Better to be safe than sorry Well, yes, health and lives will always be more important than anything.
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Post by sideshowbob on Sept 22, 2020 20:13:58 GMT
best to scrap this season, its all a waste of time. it won't happen as the measures are likely to increase.
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Post by lagerman on Sept 22, 2020 21:32:58 GMT
They might well do, but if the measures end up lasting at least 6 months anyway, that takes us to March next year and that's it, it's game over, literally, the season won't start then, we will end up looking at August next year for our next season to start
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Post by bob666 on Sept 22, 2020 21:56:57 GMT
I think its almost inevitable the league is gone but I think the FA cup stills goes ahead but how can we field a team in this? Can we keep a squad together just to play a few cup games or do we play the youth and get battered by a tier 8 first team?
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Post by Hatboy on Sept 23, 2020 13:59:23 GMT
I don't agree with your signature Saint, the fans aren't United
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Post by casper on Sept 23, 2020 17:47:10 GMT
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54237552Merthyr Town FC have decided to mothball the club for this season and will start playing again next season, covid permitting. If they played this season, they would be bankrupt by November. Doing things this way has saved the club.
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Post by lagerman on Sept 23, 2020 19:49:27 GMT
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54237552Merthyr Town FC have decided to mothball the club for this season and will start playing again next season, covid permitting. If they played this season, they would be bankrupt by November. Doing things this way has saved the club. Well, if its doable for other Clubs like that, maybe we'll see other Clubs following suit. So Merthyr hadn't started playing in front of fans yet then, like Clubs at steps 3-7 ?
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Post by Hatboy on Sept 23, 2020 23:22:58 GMT
Fan owned club
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Post by lagerman on Sept 24, 2020 8:44:26 GMT
Oh, are they ? I didn't know that. That's fair enough
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Post by casper on Sept 24, 2020 17:27:35 GMT
www.thenationalleague.org.uk/update-on-commencement-of-202021-season-63748Following a meeting of its Board of Directors this afternoon, the following update is issued on behalf of The National League: In recognition of the financial uncertainty facing its member clubs, The National League is actively engaged with Government, with the assistance of The Football Association, to secure a critical financial support package, and it is hoped this can be announced very soon. It is imperative the revenue shortfall caused by the pause to the safe return of spectators is responsibly addressed so each club can operate sustainably over the course of the forthcoming season.
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