Petition - Completion of Leagues at Non League Level

[Rhodes]

On 25/04/2020 at 12:17, Savagebee said:

Wow Dulwich Hamlet FC are well supported

Savagebee - I see that Dulwich Hamlet's future has finally been secured by Southwark Council's Planning Committee after years of uncertainty, that's one over on the unscrupulous developers isn't it who I bet were itching to turn Champion Hill into yuppie flats like everywhere else:

https://www.southwarknews.co.uk/news/dulwich-hamlet-fc-new-stadium-approved-by-southwark-council/

[Rhodes]

St Albans City have changed their crest, I wonder who's bright idea that was after 112 years, it's another desperately sad day for football:

https://www.stalbanscityfc.com/new-club-crest-for-the-city-and-the-saints/

[Savagebee]

12 minutes ago, Rhodes said:

St Albans City have changed their crest, I wonder who's bright idea that was after 112 years, it's another desperately sad day for football:

https://www.stalbanscityfc.com/new-club-crest-for-the-city-and-the-saints/

It's Strange why clubs change their crest I don't get it? I can understand it if clubs merge or reform but other than that there's no need to change a clubs crest.

I really don't like Brentford's newish crest and I wouldn't buy anything with it on that's for sure. I will only buy there retro tops in the future the last Brentford shirt I brought was about 6 or 7 years ago now.

10 hours ago, Rhodes said:

Savagebee - I see that Dulwich Hamlet's future has finally been secured by Southwark Council's Planning Committee after years of uncertainty, that's one over on the unscrupulous developers isn't it who I bet were itching to turn Champion Hill into yuppie flats like everywhere else:

https://www.southwarknews.co.uk/news/dulwich-hamlet-fc-new-stadium-approved-by-southwark-council/

Great newes ?

[Rhodes]

11 hours ago, Savagebee said:

It's Strange why clubs change their crest I don't get it? I can understand it if clubs merge or reform but other than that there's no need to change a clubs crest.

I see that St Albans City have laid out money getting a 'professional' looking video made in order to explain away and justify their 'criminal' decision to change the Club's crest which fails miserably and only makes matters far worse, it reminds me a bit of when Prince Andrew went on Newsnight recently to explain his involvement with Jeffrey Epstein and he just dug a deeper hole for himself:

 

[Rhodes]

The three National League Finals should be interesting this weekend shouldn't they, you have to hope that Notts County get back into the Football League at the first time of asking after their unfortunate relegation in 2018/19. It will also be good to see Altrincham back in the National League where they belong, who can forget their FA Cup heroics of yesteryear when drawing 1-1 at Tottenham in 1978/79, beating Birmingham City at St Andrews in 1985/86 and giving League Champions Liverpool a fright at Anfield in a 1980/81 third round tie:

[Rhodes]

On 17/06/2020 at 21:49, Rhodes said:

The FA still have to make a decision on allowing new Non League Club's for next season such as Bury AFC and Isle of Man FC are hoping to join the Pyramid, other Club's have applied for voluntary relegation due to their financial plight, the emergency rules below apparently allow the FA's Leagues Committee to fill vacancies at their discretion:

It's absolutely 'criminal' to put it mildly, Bury FC's application to join the National League System (NLS) for the coming season has been unceremoniously rejected today by 'the blazers' at the FA Council:

http://www.thefa.com/news/2020/aug/07/bury-fc-nls-application-not-accepted-070820

The FA can confirm that Bury FC’s application to join the National League System [NLS] for the 2020/21 season has not been accepted by its Alliance Leagues Committee and this decision has now been ratified by The FA Council.

Both the application and additional information provided on behalf of Bury FC, including at a virtual meeting between the Alliance Leagues Committee and the Club, were considered thoroughly. However, the Alliance Leagues Committee’s decision not to accept the application was based on several different factors, including in relation to the Club’s financial resources, ownership and insolvency status.

This decision was not taken lightly as both The FA and its Alliance Leagues Committee recognise the history and standing of Bury FC. As a result, the Alliance Leagues Committee would welcome an application from the Club to join the NLS for the 2021/22 season and detailed guidance has been provided in relation to the various conditions that would be expected before one could be considered.

Edited August 7, 2020 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

On 28/07/2020 at 22:01, Rhodes said:

I see that a date has been set for the appeal against sanctions imposed on Macclesfield Town, Tuesday 11 August, if Macclesfield's existing 'lenient' punishment stands Stevenage will be relegated back to the National League where they were promoted from in 2009/10 as Champions under controversial Manager Graham Westley:

It's 'criminal' isn't it that Macclesfield were simply handed another four point deduction yesterday and, as a result, are relegated to the National League in place of reprieved Stevenage:

[Rhodes]

Macclesfield Town Football Club are understandably 'disappointed and saddened' at the extremely harsh decision made yesterday to deduct a further four points from them and, as a result, relegate them to the National League in place of Stevenage. Although the about statement from the English Football League states that 'the Arbitration panel's decision is final and binding' the Moss Rose Club are 'currently investigating a number of avenues that are open to us':  

https://www.mtfc.co.uk/news/2020/august/12.08.20-silkmen-issue-brief-update-further-to-yesterdays-appeal-hearing-decision/

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/aug/11/macclesfield-relegated-by-points-deduction-to-give-stevenage-reprieve

[Rhodes]

Obviously not SSML but I see that Jade Thirlwall has become honorary President of South Shields Football Club, her home town Club, it's a nice story isn't it and I wonder how much money Jade has pumped in as she is a multi-millionairess at the tender age of 27:

https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/latest-news/northern-premier-league/31334/south-shields-unveil-little-mix-superstar-jade-thirlwall-as-new-president/?utm_medium=onesignal&utm_source=push_notifications&utm_campaign=web_push

[Rhodes]

Staying in the North East, I see that Darlington have requested a temporary move back to the so called white elephant of their former 25,000 capacity home, the Darlington Arena, built in 2003 with the money, or should I say ill gotten gains, of former owner and maverick George Reynolds who I believe was later jailed for money laundering offences:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/quakers-ask-the-league-for-permission-to-play-at-the-arena-on-safety-grounds

[Rhodes]

The National League as it stands for the coming 2020/21 campaign however lets hope Macclesfield somehow find a way to overturn the decision to relegate them in place of Stevenage. I see there are twelve former League Club's, Aldershot Town, Barnet, Chesterfield, Dagenham & Redbridge, Halifax Town, Hartlepool United, Macclesfield Town (or Stevenage), Notts County, Stockport County, Torquay United, Wrexham and Yeovil Town:

[Rhodes]

On 12/08/2020 at 20:34, Rhodes said:

Macclesfield Town Football Club are understandably 'disappointed and saddened' at the extremely harsh decision made yesterday to deduct a further four points from them and, as a result, relegate them to the National League in place of Stevenage. Although the about statement from the English Football League states that 'the Arbitration panel's decision is final and binding' the Moss Rose Club are 'currently investigating a number of avenues that are open to us':  

Macclesfield Town are considering their options following the very harsh decision to deduct a further four points from them and, as a result, relegate them to the National League in place of Stevenage, they are consulting with high powered legal advisers to explore the possibility of a hearing by a higher level of arbitration:

Macclesfield Town would like to provide a further update in respect of the Appeal Hearing judgement which was made last week.

In a very brief initial statement issued on Wednesday, we stated that the Club was exploring “a number of avenues that are open to us".

In particular, Macclesfield Town are concerned that having invested considerable time and effort into our preparations for a further EFL League Two campaign in 2020/21, that unlike in previous seasons, the National League won't be starting at the same time as (or indeed before) the EFL.

There appears to be no guarantee as to when the National League will commence. As such, the Club is currently seeking assurances and a satisfactory outcome to ensure that we can be guaranteed competitive football - as is customary for any Club relegated from League Two.

It cannot be fair if we are operationally or financially impaired by any other outcome.

The Club is also consulting with our legal advisors and Chambers, to explore a hearing by a higher level of arbitration.

In the meantime, preparations for the new season are progressing well - with a significant number of high quality applications received for both the First Team Manager and CEO positions.

We will provide a further update on how all the aforementioned progress as soon as we are able.

https://www.mtfc.co.uk/news/2020/august/15.08.20-silkmen-provide-further-update-relating-to-appeal-decision/

Edited August 16, 2020 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

Macclesfield Town's fight is sadly over and the EFL have cruelly rejected the appeal against their harsh relegation to the National League:

At a meeting earlier today, the EFL Board rejected a request from Macclesfield Town, made in line with Regulations 7.7A – 7.7C, to allow them to retain their status as an EFL Club.

In June 2020 Clubs approved Regulations in the event Season 2019/20 was curtailed, which was the position subsequently agreed in Leagues One and Two. These Regulations also contained a provision which gives the Board the power to save the 24th placed Club in League Two from relegation in circumstances where the Board could not be satisfied that there is a competition starting for it to participate in at National League level.

The power to reprieve brings with it an additional requirement. Where reprieving the 24th placed Club in League Two would result in the EFL having more than 72 Member Clubs, approval of 90% of all EFL Clubs would be required.

The National League informed its Clubs on 27 July 2020 of its intention to commence Season 2020/21 on 3 October 2020 and has provided the EFL with further information alongside confirming the details relating to how it intends to do so in compliance with all relevant government guidance.

Having considered written submissions from the Club, the communication received from the National League, the fact that fixtures in League One and League Two are scheduled to commence on 12 September 2020 and all other relevant matters, the Board is satisfied that competitive fixtures in the National League will commence within a reasonable period of time and that it should not utilise its power to reprieve.

As a result, Macclesfield Town, the 24th placed team in League Two are relegated from the EFL and will play in the National League in Season 2020/21.

https://www.efl.com/news/2020/august/efl-statement-macclesfield-town/

[Rhodes]

On 13/08/2020 at 02:40, Rhodes said:

Staying in the North East, I see that Darlington have requested a temporary move back to the so called white elephant of their former 25,000 capacity home, the Darlington Arena, built in 2003 with the money, or should I say ill gotten gains, of former owner and maverick George Reynolds who I believe was later jailed for money laundering offences:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/quakers-ask-the-league-for-permission-to-play-at-the-arena-on-safety-grounds

Darlington have been successful in their plea to play games at the 25,500 capacity Darlington Arena in order to increase the number of socially distanced fans, it's a shame that they cannot return there permanantly rather than ply their trade in the National League North at the inadequate Blackwell Meadows:

[Rhodes]

The opening day's fixtures for the National League on Saturday 3 October, I wonder whether Wealdstone will be thinking of Ruislip Manor when they kick off at Grosvenor Vale at 3.00pm against Chesterfield and what they maliciously did to them in order to get to where they are today:

[Rhodes]

I see that Guernsey FC have sadly been forced to withdraw from the Isthmian League due to the ongoing travel restrictions the Club face between the island and the mainland, its such a shame isn't it and the Isthmian League Division One South East will now operate with nineteen Club's this season:

https://www.isthmian.co.uk/guernsey-forced-to-take-a-covid-gap-year-63600

[Rhodes]

The National League have written to the Minister for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport asking to allow up to 1000 spectators in all grounds from 3 October when their season is due to start, I guess we (the SSML) can feel fortunate that we can have crowds at games, well apart from Crawley Green that is:

[Rhodes]

On 12/08/2020 at 20:34, Rhodes said:

Macclesfield Town Football Club are understandably 'disappointed and saddened' at the extremely harsh decision made yesterday to deduct a further four points from them and, as a result, relegate them to the National League in place of Stevenage. Although the about statement from the English Football League states that 'the Arbitration panel's decision is final and binding' the Moss Rose Club are 'currently investigating a number of avenues that are open to us':  

It would appear that Macclesfield Town, founded in 1874, are sadly doomed having been wound up in the High Court this morning with debts over £500,000, heartbreaking:

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/54177582

https://nonleaguematters.co.uk/forums/index.php?threads/r-i-p-macclesfield-town-fc-1874-2020.2589/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macclesfield_Town_F.C.

Edited September 16, 2020 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

On 11/04/2020 at 19:36, Rhodes said:

Also, in a double whammy, I see that BetVictor have terminated it's sponsorship of the Isthmian League, as well as the Northern Premier and Southern Leagues and this will cease on 9 July

I see that the Northern Premier, Isthmian and Southern Leagues have new sponsors and it's being debated on another Forum, I think they were quite fortunate to find somebody so quickly and in the current climate however it's another sports-betting and gaming group so does that send out the right messege:

https://www.thenpl.co.uk/pitching-in-partners-with-npl-63353

https://www.nonleaguematters.co.uk/forums/index.php?threads/pitching-in-partnership-with-isthmian-southern-npl-leagues.2660/