What does this mean for the SSML? and non league ⚽?

[Rhodes]

Talk about a 'cop out' folks, the FA have advised that their 'guidance remains unchanged however', wait for it, 'local FA and local Council rules should be adhered to':

https://www.thefa.com/news/2020/oct/16/football-guidance-update-161020

[Rhodes]

On 02/10/2020 at 22:10, Rhodes said:

It's a 'done deal' but only £10 million, that's not going to last five minutes is it:

The National League season will start as planned tomorrow after the government pledged £10 million to help the 67 clubs play matches behind closed doors 

Surprise surprise, the £10 million of funding in order to bailout National League Club's will now come from the National Lottery's 'promotional fund' rather than the Government and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, you couldn't make it up could you. I can see it all ending in tears and acrimony as it is £10 million less for Camelot to 'cream off', they won't be too happy to suddenly, at short notice, be asked by the Government to part with that sum even though it's just a drop in the ocean to them:

https://www.miragenews.com/10-million-lifeline-from-national-lottery-for-national-league-football-announced-by-culture-secretary/

Edited October 18, 2020 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

The situation certainly seems to be getting worse if you read this artcle, I guess we were warned about a second wave of the virus a while back but nobody really took it seriously. Lets hope there isn't going to be a disruption to the SSML campaign, particularly in Division One which is shaping up to be the most exciting for years:

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/12959216/uk-covid-cases-rise-30-per-cent-week-positive/?utm_medium=browser_notifications&utm_source=pushly

[Big J R]

It seems to have started up north and is slowly spreading South.

I don't think we've seen the end of it by a long chalk.

[Rhodes]

Here we go folks, like i said you really couldn't make it up, some National League Club's are getting more than others where the National Lottery funding is concerned, that's going to ruffle feathers isn't it:

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/54629239

https://www.nonleaguematters.co.uk/forums/index.php?threads/taxpayer-to-bail-out-the-national-league.2736/page-2

National League confirms funding split, with ex-English Football League clubs receiving more

The National League is to distribute the government's £10m support package on an average attendance basis, meaning seven former Football League clubs will receive a larger sum.

Chesterfield, Hartlepool, Notts County, Stockport, Torquay, Wrexham and Yeovil will receive £95,000 a month, with the 16 other clubs receiving £84,000.

National League games are currently being played behind closed doors.

The first payments of National Lottery funds is scheduled for next week.

In National League North and South, the majority of clubs will get £30,000 a month, although Chester, Dulwich Hamlet, Hereford, Maidstone and York will receive £36,000 a month on the same distribution model basis.

[Rhodes]

I see that there is yet another meeting between the FA and Step 5 and Step 6 Leagues tomorrow (Thursday) at 6.30pm, what good are these meetings actually doing and what is the point of having them especially as, apparently, no Agenda has been e-mailed to the Leagues, it's just the blazers at the FA wanting to look as if they are doing something which clearly they are not:

[Rhodes]

9 hours ago, Rhodes said:

In National League North and South, the majority of clubs will get £30,000 a month, although Chester, Dulwich Hamlet, Hereford, Maidstone and York will receive £36,000 a month on the same distribution model basis.

Despite receiving £6,000 more than other Club's, National League North side Chester are still unhappy with their allocation of £36,000 a month and they are quoted as saying "our allocation is significantly lower than anticipated and will not cover the matchday revenue our club has lost from playing behind closed doors for three months, we will therefore be seeking clarification about the formula the National League has used to determine the monthly allocations, which in the opinion of our club has resulted in unfair and unjustified distributions across the three divisions".

https://www.chesterfc.com/2020/10/21/club-statement-financial-support-from-the-national-lottery/

[Rhodes]

There really is a stink at present, to put it mildly, about the distribution of National Lottery bailout funding for the National League Club's, rather than being 'grateful for small mercies' in these difficult times there is bickering and back biting regarding the different amounts being shared out between Club's which, admitedly, does seem to be grossly unfair and a totally uneven plaing field. Maidstone United are the latest National League South Club to take umbrage at the £36,000 a month awarded to them and you will need a builders hard hat to read the article below by their co-owner

http://www.maidstoneunited.co.uk/2020/10/directors-blog-stones-co-owner-hits-out-at-misuse-of-grant/

The Government was specific in that the money they brokered for our football clubs, via the National Lottery, was designed to ’replace lost gate revenue.’ Clubs agreed to start the season, taking on trust the promise to cover these lost revenues. This has not happened.

[Rhodes]

A number of Step 3 Club's have now come out of the woodwork and expressed their disappointment in not receiving Government funding, this one is going to run and run isn't it:

Edited October 22, 2020 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

Continued joint statement from FC United of Manchester, South Shields and Scarborough Athletic:

[Rhodes]

On 22/10/2020 at 03:18, Rhodes said:

I see that there is yet another meeting between the FA and Step 5 and Step 6 Leagues tomorrow (Thursday) at 6.30pm, what good are these meetings actually doing and what is the point of having them especially as, apparently, no Agenda has been e-mailed to the Leagues, it's just the blazers at the FA wanting to look as if they are doing something which clearly they are not:

What a total waste of time, at yesterday evening's meeting between the FA and Step 5 and 6 Leagues all that appears to have been discussed is how to decide and conclude the 2020/21 season if, as was the case last season, it is curtailed or unfinished. Also some concerns were raised from Leagues in the North over the current Tier 3 restrictions to travel and Clubhouses. That was it, you couldn't make it up could you.

[Rhodes]

More scathing criticism of the distribution of National Lottery bailout funding for National League Club's from Kidderminster Harriers, York City and Notts County:

https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/news/2020/october/jason-turner-on-fa-cup-withdrawal-231020/

https://harriers.co.uk/news/2020/10/23/ceo-addresses-national-league-funding/

https://www.yorkcityfootballclub.co.uk/news/club/statement-national-league-funding

[Rhodes]

This is rather worrying isn't it, the Government is considering a month long lockdown across England from next week:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-54756950

 

Documents seen by the BBC suggest the UK is on course for a much higher death toll than during the first wave unless further restrictions are introduced. Deaths could reach more than 4,000 a day, one of the models suggests. This figure is based on no policies being brought in to slow the spread of the disease.

[Savagebee]

10 hours ago, Rhodes said:

This is rather worrying isn't it, the Government is considering a month long lockdown across England from next week:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-54756950

 

Documents seen by the BBC suggest the UK is on course for a much higher death toll than during the first wave unless further restrictions are introduced. Deaths could reach more than 4,000 a day, one of the models suggests. This figure is based on no policies being brought in to slow the spread of the disease.

The fact that they want another Lockdown shows that the first Lockdown didn't work or we wouldn't need another one. It's not the answer and I don't trust none of them.

[Rhodes]

7 minutes ago, Savagebee said:

I don't trust none of them.

Well it's Dominic Cummings isn't it, he's pulling the strings and what he says goes

[Rhodes]

Some depressing articles following today's announcement by the Government:

https://www.bbc.com/sport/54765522

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from-5-november

https://www.nonleaguematters.co.uk/forums/index.php?threads/covid-cancellations.2517/page-18

Confusion over grassroot sports and FA Cup ties

It is not clear how grassroots and amateur sport will be affected, but guidance is being drawn up.

However sources have indicated to BBC Sport that is unlikely that grassroots team sport will be permitted to continue.

Nine of the 40 FA Cup first round ties due to be played over 6-9 November involve teams from "non-elite" leagues.

The Football Association says it is "awaiting further information before we can confirm how this may affect non-elite football across England".

[Savagebee]

This Lockdown crap won't be finished in December don't believe that.

[Rhodes]

Savagebee - It's not looking good for the next month or so is it and an announcement from the FA is expected later today, this is a statement from England Hockey so I guess it's going to be along those lines and therefore the SSML will be suspended as from Thursday:

[Rhodes]

The doom and gloom merchants are obviously having a field day of Headingly 1981 proportions on another Forum with their speculation:

https://www.nonleaguematters.co.uk/forums/index.php?threads/lockdown-to-save-christmas.3043/

https://www.nonleaguematters.co.uk/forums/index.php?threads/covid-cancellations.2517/page-19

Due to many playing at council facilities / sports centres and those closing for two to three weeks at Xmas. If those staff are furloughed and the pitches not tended to until after lockdown some clubs might not be able to play till mid January?.

Technically steps 3-6 should not be allowed to play now in the FA Cup as it is deemed that they are part-time and football isn't their main source of income. You can now only travel if it is to your full time job, or main income job. The FA will allow them to carry on because it is their prestigious competition and they don't want it disrupted because of TV contracts etc. By round 3, most non league clubs will be out and the FA will again change the rules to suit the league clubs, having already changed them once league 1 and 2 came in. How can you have a non league club play a game behind closed doors this Saturday (FA Cup) but not next week in their own leagues. The whole thing is totally a farce.

[Big J R]

This is going to continue right through the winter.

A vaccine is going to be the only answer.