The Criteria for Application to Membership of The

[EFM The Firm, The Voice]

The Criteria for Application to Membership of The Football Conference Limited - Conference North / South for season 2004/2005

 

In order to be eligible for consideration for membership of The Football Conference Limited, Conference North and Conference South competitions for season 2004/2005 a club must be a member of the Premier Division of the Isthmian Football League Limited, Northern Premier League Limited, or Southern Football League Limited in season 2003/2004. The Champion Club of each of the member competitions First Division(s) (five in total) will also be eligible for consideration for Membership of Conference North and Conference South by way of play-offs. Applicant clubs must also confirm their agreement to meet in full the Criteria of Membership for the Conference North and Conference South competitions.

 

1. Membership and Financial Criteria

 

1.1 A club in Membership of the Isthmian Football League, Northern Premier League, or Southern Football Leagues Premier Division for season 2003/2004 must meet all of its fixture and financial obligations to the competition.

 

1.2 After provision for the three clubs to be relegated from the Football Conference national competition, a club must at the end of the 2003/2004 playing season in the Premier Division of its competition, after the Champion club has been decided, finish in 2nd to13th Position to qualify in the first instance for inclusion in the Constitution for Membership of the Conference North or Conference South for season 2004/2005.

 

The remaining promotion position of 14th in the Northern Premier League and 14th and 15th in the Isthmian and Southern Football Leagues will be determined following a series of play-off matches involving the remaining clubs in the Premier Divisions, excepted those that have been relegated, and the Champion clubs in the 5 (five) First Divisions.

 

1.3 A club must provide the two previous years audited accounts as approved by shareholders or management board at an annual general or duly constituted meeting of the club by 1st April 2004.

 

1.4 A club must by 1stApril 2004 provide a Budget and Cash Flow Plan for season 2004/2005 based on membership of Conference North and Conference South.

 

1.5 An applicant club at the end of the playing season or after noon on 16th August 2003 which:

 

- have a manager, receiver, or administrative receiver appointed in respect of that club or any part of its undertaking or assets:

 

- have an administration order made in respect of that club;

 

- have a winding-up order made in respect of that club;

 

- pass a resolution for the winding-up of that club; or

 

- enter into any arrangement with its creditors or some part of them in respect of the payment of its debts or any part of them in a Company Voluntary Arrangement under the Insolvency Act 1986 or Scheme of Arrangement under the Companies Act 1986;

 

will not be eligible for inclusion in the Constitution for Membership of the Football Conference Limited or Conference North and Conference South for season 2004/2005.

 

1.6 A club in CVA (Company Voluntary Arrangement under the Insolvency Act of 1986) or (Scheme of Arrangement under the Companies of 1985) entered into prior to 16thAugust 2003 and remains in place on 1stApril 2004 must provide written confirmation from the supervisor of the CVA or Scheme Arrangement that payments have and are being fully met together with full details of the remaining term and amount of the outstanding balance.

 

2. Playing Criteria

 

2.1 A club must at the end of the 2003/2004 playing season finish in 13th position or higher in the Premier Division of the Isthmian Football League, Northern Premier League, or the Southern Football League in order to be initially eligible for consideration for inclusion in the Constitution for Membership of Conference North or Conference South for season 2004/2005.

 

A further 5 (five) places will be allocated as outlined in Para 1.2 above.

 

2.2 A club must meet the full requirement of the Membership and Financial Criteria set out in Para’s 1.1 to 1.6 of this document by 1stApril 2004.

 

2.3 A Premier Division club must have made application for membership of Conference North or Conference South on the appropriate form no later than noon on 16thAugust 2003.

 

2.4 An applicant club should have received an acknowledgement of its application in writing from the Football Conference Limited no later than 30thAugust 2003.

 

2.5 When making application for Conference North or Conference South a club must forward a cheque to the value of £500 plus VAT (£587.50) made payable to the Football Conference Limited, by noon on 16thAugust 2003, being the cost of the club receiving a ground grading report for membership of Conference North and Conference South, unless the club has within the past two seasons received a Conference Grading in writing. Any club that has paid £1,250 plus VAT (£1,468.75) will not be required to make any other ground grading payments.

 

2.6 The Champion Club of the Isthmian Football League Division One North and South, The Northern Premier League Division One, and the Southern Football Leagues Eastern and Western Sections may make an application for inclusion in the Constitution of Conference North and Conference South for season 2004/2005 provided the club submitted an application together with a cheque for £500 plus VAT (£587.50), in writing, no later than 1st February 2004 and has achieved the necessary Ground Grading and Criteria requirements to be considered for membership of Conference North / Conference South by 1stApril 2004. Club’s who meet the requirements of the Criteria in full will qualify for a series of play-off matches as outlined in Para 1.2 above.

 

Only the Champion Clubs in the First Divisions will be eligible to compete in the play-off matches

 

2.7 Should any of the top 13 Member clubs in the Premier Divisions of the Isthmian League, Northern Premier League or Southern League fail to meet the necessary Criteria or full Application requirements for membership for whatever reason then the Club finishing the playing season in 14th position of the Premier Division of the respective competition and thereafter on a sliding position, excluding the clubs due to be relegated, below will be eligible for inclusion in the Conference North and Conference South season 2004/2005.

 

2.8 Until the Annual General Meeting of the Football Conference Limited, on 5th June 2004, to formalise and approve the Constitution and Membership of Conference North and Conference South an Alliance Committee with representatives of the Football Conference, Isthmian Football League, Northern Premier League, and Southern Football League will administer the affairs of the new structure in accordance with the agreement of 13th March 2003 and subsequently signed by each party and submitted to the Football Association.

 

2.9 At the Annual General Meeting of the Football Conference Limited, on 5thJune 2004 the Constitution and Criteria of the Alliance Committee will be formally approved and included in the Articles of Association and Rules of the Competition.

 

2.10 The Football Association will be entitled to be represented and attend all meetings of the current Alliance Committee until the constitution is approved on 5thJune 2004.

 

3. Ground Criteria

 

3.1 The Ground Criteria for season 2004/2005 membership of Conference North or Conference South is the criteria currently in place for membership of the Isthmian Football League, Northern Premier League, and Southern Football League Premier Divisions. The Grading Document “Category B” is the ground grading membership requirement for all Member Clubs of Conference North and Conference South which must be achieved by 1stApril 2005.

 

3.2 A club should receive confirmation of its ground grading status between 1st September and 30thOctober 2003 in writing from the Football Conference Limited on behalf of the Alliance.

 

3.3 A club that has a current Football Conference grading or has received a Conference Ground Grading report within the last two years may not receive a visit prior the end of season 2003/2004.

 

3.4 A club should in order to be eligible for membership of Conference North / Conference South have received confirmation of ground grading status by 30thNovember 2003 or in the case of clubs visited in season 2003/2004 by 31st March 2004 where a report has been issued to the club in that season on ground grading requirements.

 

3.5 All Premier Division Member Clubs of the three competitions, Isthmian, Northern Premier, and Southern Leagues, seeking Membership of Conference North or Conference South will be required to complete in full the Membership Application form enclosed and return to the Football Conference Office to be received by noon on 16thAugust 2003.

 

4. Conference North / Conference South – season 2004/2005

 

4.1 A club whose application for membership of Conference North / Conference South is successful will receive an invitation to be included in the constitution of the competition in writing on or by 10th May 2004 following an Alliance Committee meeting of 2ndMay 2004.

 

4.2 An applicant club that is successful in being included in the Constitution for season 2004/2005 will be placed in either Conference North or Conference South based wholly on the clubs traditional geographical home location.

 

4.3 The final movement of any club within the restructuring process, whether promotion, relegation, or transfer between competitions will be determined by the Football Association in conjunction with the Alliance Committee of the Football Conference, Isthmian, Northern Premier, and Southern Football Leagues.

 

4.4 Clubs receiving an invitation for inclusion in the Constitution to become a member of Conference North/ Conference South for season 2004/2005 will be required to be represented at the Annual General Meeting of the Football Conference Limited on Saturday 5thJune 2004. The venue and full details of the meeting will be provided at least 14 days prior to the meeting.

 

5. Conference North and Conference South - Playing Season 2004/2005

 

5.1 At the end of the 2004/05 playing season, the clubs which finish in the championship position in Conference North and Conference South will be eligible for promotion to the Football Conference national competition, subject to the club(s) meeting in full the Criteria of Membership for that competition.

 

5.2 Clubs which finish the playing season in 2004/2005 in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th position in Conference North and Conference South will be eligible to enter an end of season play-off competition with the winner of the final match being eligible for the third promotion place to the Football Conference national competition.

 

5.3 If any club completes the playing season in 2004/2005 in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th highest positions in Conference North and Conference South on or after 5thJune 2004;

 

- have a manager, receiver, or administrative receiver appointed in respect of that club or any part of its undertaking or assets;

 

- have an administration order made in respect of that club;

 

- pass a winding-up order made in respect of that club;

 

- pass a resolution for the winding-up of that club; or

 

- enter into any arrangement with its creditors or some part of them in respect of the payment of its debts or part of them as a Company Voluntary Arrangement under the Insolvency Act 1986 or Scheme Arrangement under the Companies Act 1985;

 

then that club shall, immediately after the club’s final Conference North or Conference South championship fixture (excluding Play-Offs and Play-Off Final), automatically forfeit sufficient points to ensure that they shall attain a final Conference North or Conference South position immediately below that which would otherwise have rendered them eligible to participate in and qualify for promotion through the Play-Offs and Play-Off Final and/or automatic promotion the Football Conference national competition as champion club.

 

5.4 The Football Conference Limited, the Isthmian Football League Limited, Northern Premier League Limited, and Southern Football League Limited will all submit appropriate amendments to its current Articles of Association, Rules, and Regulations for season 2004/2005 and for subsequent submission and approval by the Football Association no later than 31stDecember 2003.

 

5.5 Rule changes submitted to the Football Association will provide for new promotion and relegation agreements between the Football Conference Limited and the Isthmian Football League Limited, Northern Premier League Limited, and Southern Football League Limited in order to comply with the new structure of each competition as defined and sanctioned by the Football Association Council Meeting on 21stJune 2003.

 

6. Appeal Process

 

The decisions of the Alliance Committee will be final in all matters regarding Constitution and Membership qualifications for Conference North and Conference South. Clubs have the right of appeal in accordance with Football Association procedures. Such appeals must be made in writing and, accompanied by the appropriate appeal fee, lodged with and received by The Football Association at 25 Soho Square, London W1D 4FA within 7(seven) days of a notification of a decision being posted in writing in respect of their membership of the competition.

 

7. Competition Management

 

In season 2004/2005, the Competition will be governed by a Management Board consisting of the following:

 

2 Representatives from each of the 4 competitions

 

4 club representatives who will be co-opted (2 each from the North & South)

 

That the Chairman of the Football Conference be the Chairman

 

In subsequent years, the club representatives would be elected on an annual basis by the clubs in membership of Conference North and Conference South.

 

Timetable for the Restructured National Leagues Conference North / Conference South

 

21st July 2003

 

The Alliance will issue the Criteria of Membership and Ground Grading Documents to all Clubs currently in the Premier and First Divisions of the Isthmian, Northern Premier and Southern Football Leagues, with a copy to the Secretary of each competition.

 

16th August 2003

 

Clubs in membership of the Premier Divisions of the Isthmian, Northern Premier, and Southern Football Leagues must by noon on 16thAugust 2003 have completed an application form and returned it to the Football Conference Offices in order to be considered for membership of Conference North and Conference South for season 2004/2005.

 

19th August - 30th October 2003

 

Clubs will be visited by a Grading Party appointed by the Alliance Committee to Ground Grade a club which has not previously received or been subject to a Football Conference Grading Visit and/or report within the past two years.

 

1st September and 30th November 2003

 

All applicant clubs that have been visited should receive a full report on the Ground Grading visit made by 30th October 2003.

 

30th November 2003

 

Appropriate rule changes to be agreed between the respective Alliance Member Competitions

 

31st December 2003

 

All Alliance Member Competitions to submit appropriate Rule changes to the Football Association for approval and sanction for season 2004/2005.

 

January - April 2004

 

Clubs will receive progress bulletins on the Conference North and Conference South structure and the new structures in the Isthmian, Northern Premier, and Southern Football Leagues.

 

1st February 2004

 

Clubs in the First Divisions North and South of the Isthmian, Eastern and Western Divisions of the Southern, and First Division of the Northern Premier Football Leagues must have made an application for membership of Conference North and Conference South for season 2004/2005.

 

1st April 2004

 

All applicant clubs must meet in full the Criteria of Membership requirements as specified in Criteria and Ground Grading Documents issued to all clubs on 14thJuly 2003.

 

2nd May 2004

 

The Alliance Committee together with representatives of the FA National Leagues Systems Committee will meet and form the constitutions at each step of the new national structure and confirm movement of clubs.

 

4th May 2004

 

Correspondence will be issued by the Alliance Committee to all clubs to confirm each club’s position in the national structure for season 2004/2005.

 

25th May 2004

 

Clubs who receive a written invitation for inclusion in the Membership of Conference North or Conference South must have returned all completed documentation together with a cheque for £3,000 plus VAT (£3,525.00) being the Membership (£1,000) and Annual Subscription Fees (£2,000) for season 2004/2005.

 

5th June 2004

 

All clubs invited to be included in the Constitution of Membership for Conference North and Conference South to be represented at the Annual General Meeting.

 

16th August 2004

 

The Conference North and Conference South competitions commence their playing season fixtures.

 

[Mark (Flag) Braintree]

The Voice, how does that leave St.Albans then? (with your bankruptcy a couple of seasons ago, it was the day we were due to play you at Cressing Road but the game was pp and we played you at the end of the season)

I originally thought that both your boys and Kingstonian would fall fail of the 2 years of debt rule. How do you see it from st.albans?

Are St.Albans trying to get in Conference South?

[EFM The Firm, The Voice]

It was 3 seasons ago now and I presume we are trying to get into the conference south but somebody should tell the players!

[EFM The Firm, The Voice]

Actaully it was about this time 2 years ago but we'll outstrip the 2 years in the summer and it would of been 2 full seasons which is what i presume they mean!

[Rob_the_Saint]

I think rule 1.6 applies in our case although the CVA might be paid off by now. K's are out of administration now so I assume they are OK.

[AFF]

The 'Club' is a limited company, the majority shareholding of which was acquired by William Verry Ltd. in February/March 2002.

 

During the tenure of the previous majority shareholder, the club [company] failed to honour the terms of 2 successive Company Voluntary Arrangements. As the directors of the company were unable to give required assurances of its ability to complete its fixtures for the 2001/02 season to The Ryman League, the club was suspended from the League in January 2002.

 

As the company had failed to honour the terms of the C.V.A.'s, the Supervisor of the C.V.A. issued a winding-up petition to be heard in the High Court on February 20th, 2002.

 

At the eleventh hour, the majority shareholding was acquired by William Verry Ltd. That company was able to give assurances to The Ryman League and the suspension was lifted.

 

I assume that William Verry Ltd came to appropriate arrangements with all of the Club's [company's] creditors in February/March/April 2002.

 

I seem to recall [and I may be wrong and it may have changed] that the financial year of the company that is the Club is the 12 months to May. Reading Rule 1.3 above, the required two years properly audited accounts will be for the period commencing May 2002, when William Verry Ltd were in control of affairs.

 

So. The chap from Braintree, above, might be right in the literal sense, when he refers to our 'bankruptcy' to the extent that the company was unable or unwilling to meet it's obligations but he is wrong to the extent that the company was not declared 'bankrupt' in the technical sense.

 

I do not know any of the detail of the arrangements made by William Verry Ltd to meet the previous debts of the company but I have absolutely no doubt that Gibbo and his colleagues and that company will have acted entirely properly in every respect. I should be very surprised if a '3rd' C.V.A. was completed but if it was, I have no doubt that the Conference rule which requires proper confirmation that it's terms are being met will be readily able to be complied with.

 

Reading those rules of eligibility, I don't believe that we have any concerns on the financial side.

 

The number of points in the League are of much greater concern, however.

 

 

 

 

[mdetaylor]

AFF - hope this helps - 31 May is indeed end of financial year.

 

Accounting Reference Date : 31/05

Last Accounts Made Up To : 31/05/2002 (FULL)

Next Accounts Due : 31/03/2004

Last Return Made Up To : 29/12/2003

Next Return Due : 26/01/2005

 

[AFF]

Hi MdeT.

 

A happy New Year to you!! Prosperous in your case, I have no doubt.

 

Free advice from a Solicitor is a rare treat!

 

So. Full accounts rather than abbreviated statements. All up to date as well. No fines for late submissions. Refreshing.

[mdetaylor]

Happy new year to you too.

Don't thank me, thank companies house.