FA Announcment

[A Rebel and a Saint]

https://www.thenationalleague.org.uk/national-league-statement-remaining-league-matches-61884

[Windsor Rebel]

Question is, when will we as fans be able to watch football at Arbour Park again? Cant see it happening until at least October as the authorities will have to sort out vaccines, social distancing etc.

Sorry to be  a prophet of doom, but just trying to be realistic.

[GlenSTFC]

Play the play offs behind closed doors, stream all matches live and charge a sensible fee (£5-£10) and everyone wins.

[Stan]

Not sure of the point of that if as Windsor Rebel says we cant even start the new season in August.  Germany has announced a ban on all public gatherings until October so his prediction looks sound. 

if its not safe for fans to watch even if they can social distance how can it be safe for players who cannot ! 

I still think we should just keep this season on ice until we can safely resume normal football be that October or even later  and accept its next season that will be missed .

[GlenSTFC]

I think it’s obvious the new season won’t start in August, it might be November even January. I can’t see next season being scrapped, it might be condensed with a lot more midweek games and it may well take 2 or 3 seasons to get back to ‘normal’.

[GlenSTFC]

1 hour ago, Stan said:

if its not safe for fans to watch even if they can social distance how can it be safe for players who cannot ! 

Because there’s only 32 players who will all be tested and you can’t do that with hundreds/thousands of fans!

[Stan]

Not sure that in the queue for testing that Non League footballers are going to be a high priority! Even in 6 months time.

[GlenSTFC]

Ok will shall see then..,

[Big J R]

There is so much more to be sorted out over the COVID virus.  Mutation or even a second wave in the appproaching autumn.

I have a horrible feeling we may have to wait until 2021for a resumption of play.

[Sir Rebel1965]

Unfortunately I don’t even think it is about when, but more whom.

 

There will be clubs which fold and there may need to be a complete restructure of who is left to rebuild the leagues.

 

Far too early for answers, but it won’t be the same as we went into it.

 

I now look back on Weymouth and the comments “see you next season” and wonder if even that was too optimistic.

 

However STFC are in a strong place and will survive, had this happened 10-15 years ago we would have been one of the casualties.

Edited April 26, 2020 by Sir Rebel1965

[Curtis]

National League promotion could change:-

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52456446
 

Has there been any announcement from the Club or the National League about the first vote they were giving all the clubs?

[Curtis]

It looks like League Two have decided unanimously to end the season.

It doesn’t seem clear what will happen regarding promotion & relegation though, although it appears they would like promotions to League One but no relegation from League Two.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52689622

 

[Curtis]

Apparently they are recommending an unweighted points system to determine the outcome of the season.

If the National League adopt the same system then Barrow win the National Premier, Kettering the National North, and Wealdstone the National South.

We would finish 5th.

And IF play-offs were to be played we would be away to Havant.

 

[rebelbrewer]

1 hour ago, Curtis said:

Apparently they are recommending an unweighted points system to determine the outcome of the season.

If the National League adopt the same system then Barrow win the National Premier, Kettering the National North, and Wealdstone the National South.

We would finish 5th.

And IF play-offs were to be played we would be away to Havant.

 

Don't think they'll be played but home to Dartford before away to Havant?

[Reading Rebel]

If positions stayed the same we would be home to Dartford in the quarter final.

Who plays Havant in the semi final would depend on who is the lowest placed quarter final winning team.

All speculation but If the play-offs did happen and we were to make it to the semi final not sure which I'd prefer out of Havant or Weymouth away.

 

Edited May 18, 2020 by Reading Rebel

[Reading Rebel]

League 2 have today voted to end the normal league season which will include promotion, relegation and the play-offs on a PPG basis. 

The NL are to meet tomorrow to decide how to finish the season and are expected to follow suit. 

Edited June 9, 2020 by Reading Rebel

[Shredding Green]

On 17/05/2020 at 20:00, rebelbrewer said:

Don't think they'll be played but home to Dartford before away to Havant?

I think Curtis meant King's Lynn Town not Kettering Town.

[Curtis]

Apparently League Two are planning their play-off final for 29th June.

So if the National League follow suit & still have play-offs they will probably need to start in the next 10 days.

I haven’t been listening to any of the recent Club interviews, but does it sound like the players have kept in good shape for this possibility, and has any form of training resumed?

[Reading Rebel]

With the NL meeting today we should get all the answers to promotion, relegation and play-offs by the end of this week.

 

[Reading Rebel]

Seems the format to decide the outcome of the season is as follows:

NL board meet today to decide whether to hold the play-offs and how to decide the outcome of the leagues.

The NL will then speak to clubs from all the divisions tomorrow giving a presentation with a max 2 people (one must be the Chairman) from each club in attendance.

Clubs will then be asked to vote.