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Post by Kenty in Weardale on Jun 19, 2020 17:25:27 GMT
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Post by Kenty in Weardale on Jun 19, 2020 17:34:43 GMT
To summarise:-
THIS SUMMER Even if a league at a higher step has a vacancy caused by a club folding or requesting voluntary relegation, NO Promotion will occur and that league will run short. The FA will look at applications to enter the pyramid to fill a vacancy (AFC Bury and Isle of Mann were only ones mentioned).
FUNDING The FA National Game have had a 38% cut in funding. This will impact all NLS leagues who will no longer receive FA Development funding, but they will still receive Administration grants at current level. FA Vase prize money will be reduced by approx 6%
COMPETITIONS It is the FA’s ambition still to run the FA Cup & FA Vase in full, BUT that may not be possible and certainly with the FA Cup they are contractually bound to have the FA Cup 3rd Rd on the opening weekend of January, so the dates and numbers of earlier rounds may be affected by that. The non-league final day at Wembley is subject to the FA calendar given that Euro 2020 matches now have to fit into 2021. Consideration is being given to do away with Replays in both Cup & Vase to aid fitting in league fixtures. If the season does not start in August then League and County Cups cannot be run in the traditional formats during the league playing season, but possible that new ways could be found to run Cups.
RESTARTING NLS FOOTBALL The FA stated that NLS will only re-start when the Dept of Media, Culture & Sport (DCMS) gives approval AND subject to any conditions that the DCMS makes. Games cannot re-start at Steps 1 to 7 of the NLS without spectators, AND ALL STEPS ARE TIED TOGETHER on a restart date (eg Step 6 cannot start whilst Step 3 is not allowed and vice versa) Football BELOW Step 7 where no admission is taken may start on a different date and is subject to specific “grass-roots” Govt guidance. The FA are working on various scenarios as to when and how it affects the programme of games, this was explained as: August – A normal season September/October – Full League seasons to be priority with NO League or County Cups November/January – Not possible for a full league season to be played and in this situation either half seasons (play each other once) or splitting divisions in half (probably on geographics) so that in our case we have 4 divisions of 10 rather than 2 of 20 Later than January – Worse case scenario with re-structure and leagues maybe held over again until 2021/22 season. Whilst NOT a commitment or guarantee by any means, the FA said the most likely current scenario would be September. Pre-Season – The FA stated a pre-season would occur before commencement of matches, but they were not prepared to say what duration in weeks that timeframe would be. End of season – Flexibility to go into May rather than the last weekend of April, but again this would really depend on the starting date of the season. Possible agreement prior to restarting so that if a 2nd spike forced another curtailment of next season, that the leagues could be awarded based on the percentage of games actually played at that time – details to follow.
CLUBS The FA will require ALL CLUBS to produce and publish a Risk assessment and/or action plans to ensure they are Covid secure. This is specifically for clubs that are neither “elite” nor “grassroots” and will cover such things as: Return to full training / matches Use of facilities including clubhouses, dressing rooms etc Travel The volunteer workforce at each club The FA are currently writing a guidance paper on this and it will follow to clubs in the near future. Ground Grading: The FA have built into the temporary changes to regulations some flexibility regarding ground grading dates, whilst no specific date or rule has been changed, the FA stated that it is “Not the intention to relegate any clubs for work that Covid has meant they have been unable to do.”
Many thanks to Paulh66, a poster on the Non League Matters forum
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Post by wwrebel on Jun 19, 2020 17:56:36 GMT
So we will have to wait until the National League restarts. Judging by the length of time it has taken them to sort out concluding this season we may have to a long wait!!
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Post by Kenty in Weardale on Jun 19, 2020 18:01:48 GMT
At least the decision making is centralised rather than left to individual leagues to make (or cock up)
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Post by wwrebel on Jun 19, 2020 19:05:10 GMT
Very hypocritical to promote unifying steps 1 to 7 regarding a 20/21 season starting date when steps 3 and below have been cast aside from any unity with steps 1 and 2 with the expunging of season 19/20.
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Post by Keithsson on Jun 19, 2020 19:55:58 GMT
Very hypocritical to promote unifying steps 1 to 7 regarding a 20/21 season starting date when steps 3 and below have been cast aside from any unity with steps 1 and 2 with the expunging of season 19/20. This, with bells on.
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Post by virgs1 on Jun 22, 2020 15:11:21 GMT
Personally I think it will be closer to the November/January restart with limited capacities and online ticketing. Time will tell of course but cant wait to get back.
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Post by wwrebel on Jun 22, 2020 18:47:28 GMT
What is the official capacity of Woodside Road?? I have read that it can hold around 4000!!! Seems a bit high but if football commences with 50% capacity every team in our league should be OK considering last seasons attendances that everyone who wants to attend can fit in.
Personally think attendnaces will be lower than usual for a while. Some people will have got out of the habit of going, plenty will have taken a financial hit in the last few months and some, particularly the elderly or those with health conditions may decide to stay away until a vaccine is developed (whenever that may be.) Be interesting how many away fans will attend games aswell. Suppose the option of travelling with the players on the coach may not be permissible for a while yet. Saying all that I'm still hopeful that a September or early October start is possible.
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Post by vertigate on Jun 22, 2020 23:31:50 GMT
I couldn't care less when/if the next season starts if any extra restrictions are imposed on spectators.
If I cannot just turn up and pay at the gate, I am not interested. If I have to wear a face mask, I am not interested. If I am not allowed into a clubhouse, I am not interested.
Return to normal or not at all as far as I am concerned. (There is no such thing as "new normal", conditions will either normal or they are still restricted)
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Post by Keithsson on Jun 23, 2020 17:26:57 GMT
I couldn't care less when/if the next season starts if any extra restrictions are imposed on spectators. If I cannot just turn up and pay at the gate, I am not interested. If I have to wear a face mask, I am not interested. If I am not allowed into a clubhouse, I am not interested. Return to normal or not at all as far as I am concerned. (There is no such thing as "new normal", conditions will either normal or they are still restricted) I think 'each to their own' covers that point of view. We are with this virus for the long haul. Were all fans to be as inflexible as that, with no concession at all to the new reality, then I fear there would be no clubs for fans to come back to. Everyone will have to make their own choices what they do when football at our level comes back. But personally I'd wear a full CBRN suit if I had to.
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Post by wwrebel on Jun 23, 2020 17:37:21 GMT
If supporters are asked to wear masks and stand at least 1m apart then is it fair to ask players to do neither and just carry on as normal?
I agree with Vertigates post.
Pubs and restaurants opening up again is a step forward but all the time social distancing measures are in place - whether it's 2m or 1m - I can't see football at the lower levels beginning as clubs could not afford to test all their players on a regular basis. Hopefully the new regulations on July 4th work smoothly without a rise in infections and then we might hear some good news in early August.
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Post by Keithsson on Jun 23, 2020 18:40:43 GMT
I can't help but feel todays situation is being applied to a future some way down the track still.
Even where we are now seemed scary when it was announced in the May 11th 'road map'. But we've hit the numbers now for July 4th to happen... and again it seems scary. Each step will seem scary but if folk don't take the piss we'll hit the numbers at each stage. The science is good.
August we can forget about, maybe even September too but when it's safe to be in a crowd again we'll be back. I just don't see how wearing a face covering or limiting numbers is a line that simply cannot be crossed if a little bit of initial risk mitigation is needed.
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Post by cityboy on Jun 23, 2020 20:07:20 GMT
I can't help but feel todays situation is being applied to a future some way down the track still. Even where we are now seemed scary when it was announced in the May 11th 'road map'. But we've hit the numbers now for July 4th to happen... and again it seems scary. Each step will seem scary but if folk don't take the piss we'll hit the numbers at each stage. The science is good. August we can forget about, maybe even September too but when it's safe to be in a crowd again we'll be back. I just don't see how wearing a face covering or limiting numbers is a line that simply cannot be crossed if a little bit of initial risk mitigation is needed. Not that we have inside information 😂😂 but rumour has it over here that September / October look popular. Probably with a crowd restriction
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Post by virgs1 on Jul 3, 2020 14:45:22 GMT
Further FA Meeting on 14th July FYI - Saw it on Ollie Bayless twitter, hopefully some more info on restart plans.
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Post by Keithsson on Jul 4, 2020 13:17:00 GMT
Saturday 3rd October possibly? Speculation in the Herald - Link
Worth noting the source comes from Bognor... and they should know as it's they he who pushed null and void through. Also worthy of note, their new stand and pitch which needed more time than a normal close season to complete... will be completed in September, just in time for this proposed new season start date. My word, what a coincidence
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