Decisions being made

[Suffolk Blue]

I hope this doesn't sound rude, but if your first para is accurate, no **** Sherlock. Time for the PL to show understanding and benevolence to the lower leagues. Will it happen? Unlikely.
The second para is the same sentiment - I'm guilty of "just talk", as we all are. There are very few options sadly. Our club has strongly hinted how it can self sustain when a season is up and running. The dangers when things are uncertain are obvious. The current situation is unique, so we need strong leadership and decisions. Scotland has done it (shame for Patrick Thistle) and the leagues below have as well (shame for e.g. Workington and Liverpool South). We need to plan for the future, rather than just hope it will all sort out. As said before, hope is never a strategy. Unfortunately too much money at stake at the top end for them to bother too much with the likes us.

Doesn't sound rude at all HTB. And yes I was stating the obvious. And we are in the forum to discuss and talk. But in the absence of those talking who can actually influence the state of affairs we (certainly including me) inevitably end up in non-specific speculation. But sometimes its important to point out ideas that become connected have much different outcomes. If we are really in the territory of not playing again this year then whether we are promoted or not is not really that relevant as it could end up being posthumous. The view that we would be promoted but emerge next year into a refreshed L2 is very probably total cr*p.

I've ranted on before about the apparent lack of strategic awareness of the NL. They have not been visible and show little corporate compassion or empathy. They will see us as a problem not an opportunity. They will naturally incline towards a null and void solution because they do not have a broader view of football at this level that they can promote. They are a cartel rather than an association and not even one that knows how to reflect the relative importance of it members. Where do you think the plan for the future is going to come from? Certainly not the NL.

[barrowfan]

Another one routing for us:
https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/fo ... QEV9GRWt5s

[andyg]

I hope this doesn't sound rude, but if your first para is accurate, no **** Sherlock. Time for the PL to show understanding and benevolence to the lower leagues. Will it happen? Unlikely.
The second para is the same sentiment - I'm guilty of "just talk", as we all are. There are very few options sadly. Our club has strongly hinted how it can self sustain when a season is up and running. The dangers when things are uncertain are obvious. The current situation is unique, so we need strong leadership and decisions. Scotland has done it (shame for Patrick Thistle) and the leagues below have as well (shame for e.g. Workington and Liverpool South). We need to plan for the future, rather than just hope it will all sort out. As said before, hope is never a strategy. Unfortunately too much money at stake at the top end for them to bother too much with the likes us.

Doesn't sound rude at all HTB. And yes I was stating the obvious. And we are in the forum to discuss and talk. But in the absence of those talking who can actually influence the state of affairs we (certainly including me) inevitably end up in non-specific speculation. But sometimes its important to point out ideas that become connected have much different outcomes. If we are really in the territory of not playing again this year then whether we are promoted or not is not really that relevant as it could end up being posthumous. The view that we would be promoted but emerge next year into a refreshed L2 is very probably total cr*p.

I've ranted on before about the apparent lack of strategic awareness of the NL. They have not been visible and show little corporate compassion or empathy. They will see us as a problem not an opportunity. They will naturally incline towards a null and void solution because they do not have a broader view of football at this level that they can promote. They are a cartel rather than an association and not even one that knows how to reflect the relative importance of it members. Where do you think the plan for the future is going to come from? Certainly not the NL.

I too have no faith with the NL management. We are a hindrance and null and void is the easiest way out for them. As our manager said a decision like that rewards mediocrity or under achievers not that the Fylde Chairman will be too concerned with that.

[russell_anderson]

Article by Oliver Holt in the Mail on Sunday this morning basically saying that under no circumstances should the leagues be made null and void and that Liverpool, Leeds and Barrow should be title winners/promoted.

[Suffolk Blue]

More welcome positivity coming from the EFL

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52417844

[saltcellar]

Mark Harris the chairman of the North Premier League said on Radio Cumbria that they wanted the league finishing with points per game, but were not allowed to by the powers above them, so had no option to make the season null and void.

[barrowfan]

Mark Harris the chairman of the North Premier League said on Radio Cumbria that they wanted the league finishing with points per game, but were not allowed to by the powers above them, so had no option to make the season null and void.

If that's the case the powers above should be taken to court and sued.

[xerxes]

Mark Harris the chairman of the North Premier League said on Radio Cumbria that they wanted the league finishing with points per game, but were not allowed to by the powers above them

Who are "the powers above them" in this context?

[Suffolk Blue]

Mark Harris the chairman of the North Premier League said on Radio Cumbria that they wanted the league finishing with points per game, but were not allowed to by the powers above them

Who are "the powers above them" in this context?

The FA Council in all probability who are supposed to represent the needs in Step 3 and below. The same FA Council who told the NL on March 25th that they could not simply null and void the season without at least consulting their members.

[chipmunx]

Mark Harris the chairman of the North Premier League said on Radio Cumbria that they wanted the league finishing with points per game, but were not allowed to by the powers above them

Who are "the powers above them" in this context?

I think that can only mean the FA.

[Suffolk Blue]

Here's an interesting quote from the Chairman of Solihull made in the last week. Just in case anybody was getting to think that the thoughts of Fyldes owner was typical.

"... we need to be cognisant that the crisis is an existential issue for many clubs and there seems to be an increasing consensus that we should end the season and then work out how best to deal with promotion and relegation issues. Preserving the football family intact has to be the priority.

Having said this, we feel it is essential that the National League stays in lockstep with the EFL, as it is our view that the National League is effectively League Three and needs to demonstrate solidarity with League One and Two. As we have commented before, we will continue to pursue a rule change to allow promotion of three clubs from the National League to League Two".

[Hitthebar22]

I'm not surprised that NL are taking their time about deciding how the NL,NLN and NLS seasons will be resolved in the sense of promotion and relegation; it's a nightmare.
The stark contrast between "null and void" or "decided on merit" has a huge impact on Barrow, Harrogate (but factor in the playoff argument), Maidenhead, Ebbsfleet, Fylde and Chorley. Also York, Kings Lynn, Wealdstone and Havant. Also perhaps Stevenage. They could stay in L2 if our league is declared null and void.
But there is a difficulty in that too. What if NL say e.g "null and void", and EFL say "decided on merit". Who goes where?
If the NL has any sense it will hang on to see what happens elsewhere, but they can't hang on forever. It makes complete sense to follow what EFL does. I suspect EFL are waiting to see what happens with PL, and for some, EUFA's view will be important.
In my opinion everyone from tier 6 upwards has to sing from the same hymn sheet. That involves us, EFL and PL., with the FA involved in some way too. To borrow a phrase from Scotland - now more than ever is a time for integrity, impartiality and transparency.
A final cynical and entirely personal view - not going to happen from our perspective though because everything is dominated far too much by money at the top end.

On another note https://www.efl.com/news/2020/april/efl ... s-update2/
Is pie in the sky if you accept the recent view of the UK's senior medical officer Chris Whitty.

[Suffolk Blue]

I'm not surprised that NL are taking their time about deciding how the NL,NLN and NLS seasons will be resolved in the sense of promotion and relegation; it's a nightmare.
The stark contrast between "null and void" or "decided on merit" has a huge impact on Barrow, Harrogate (but factor in the playoff argument), Maidenhead, Ebbsfleet, Fylde and Chorley. Also York, Kings Lynn, Wealdstone and Havant. Also perhaps Stevenage. They could stay in L2 if our league is declared null and void.
But there is a difficulty in that too. What if NL say e.g "null and void", and EFL say "decided on merit". Who goes where?
If the NL has any sense it will hang on to see what happens elsewhere, but they can't hang on forever. It makes complete sense to follow what EFL does. I suspect EFL are waiting to see what happens with PL, and for some, EUFA's view will be important.
In my opinion everyone from tier 6 upwards has to sing from the same hymn sheet. That involves us, EFL and PL., with the FA involved in some way too. To borrow a phrase from Scotland - now more than ever is a time for integrity, impartiality and transparency.
A final cynical and entirely personal view - not going to happen from our perspective though because everything is dominated far too much by money at the top end.

On another note https://www.efl.com/news/2020/april/efl ... s-update2/
Is pie in the sky if you accept the recent view of the UK's senior medical officer Chris Whitty.

Interesting fact HTB that the NLN and NLS will cast their votes first this week before the NL itself. Now with Step 3 already being voided by our friends at the FA, at the moment neither the NLN or NLS have any relegation issues. So in a supreme irony they may be more likely to go for a PPG type solution. They will believe that they can have promotion without relegation - so why wouldn't they be inclined to go for that?

[Suffolk Blue]

Am genuinely interested in whether my interpretation is correct that is no teams will be relegated from NLN or NLS a decision made and confirmed by the FA by null and voiding everything from the top of step 3 down?

So if true then the feeder leagues to the NL have no incentive at all to vote null and void as it has no beneficial effect on any club. Although each league has only 4 votes making a total of 8 it is very likely (in order to have any influence) that they will cast a bloc vote. So whilst they might disagree on a solution to handle promotion they have every incentive to want A solution since it costs them zip.

So if those votes went against a voiding proposal would it not make it very difficult for that option to get a majority?

[Adam29]

Although the leagues below have been voided
They haven’t taken relegations off the table for North and South

Bradford Park Ave’s MD has come out today saying he would take the national league to court if BPA were to be relegated