Dulwich Hamlet and Coronavirus

[Roger D]

And here's a government minister suggesting Elite sport may not be very far up their priority list. Looks like they may have to ask the Premier League for funding

Elite sport must find a way to support itself, says minister Nigel Huddleston

Elite sport will be expected to "look at ways in which it can support itself" through financial difficulties, the UK sports minister says.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[PartisanDulwich]

Always felt if anyone could do Covid secure and football it could be Dulwich Hamlet
as we have fans who would follow the rules to the letter, stewards/officials who would enforce correctly, fairly and a Club leadership that would ensure correct protocols were followed to the letter - Whether social distancing, mask wearing, hand sanitiser, temperature checks and maybe advice to fans who were clinically more at risk

The problem now is apart from the serious financial situation of going a head with no or limited fans, looks like London is heading for it's own lock down

 

[Roger D]

Ollie Bayliss has tweeted that the league has confirmed they will start next week behind closed doors if the government confirm a bailout before then. The plan seems to be a monthly subsidy based on lost gate receipts.

Not great for anyone who takes a lot of money via the bar during the week etc and any other facilities that are currently not pulling in the usual levels of income

 

[Cyclodunc]

Always felt if anyone could do Covid secure and football it could be Dulwich Hamlet
as we have fans who would follow the rules to the letter

bit optimistic

 

[bkbk]

What does this actually mean in reality, starting the season and triggering loads of contract liabilities? You'd think it's a good news message but is it actually? I really have no clue any more.

 

[Roger D]

The BBC are suggesting the member club's will be given a sum each month to cover lost net gate receipts only and that the total lump sum for the league is expected to be in the ballpark of two to three million pounds a month.

I would suggest that, if true, will leave a shortfall at many clubs.

 

[StephenMac]

What does this actually mean in reality, starting the season and triggering loads of contract liabilities? You'd think it's a good news message but is it actually? I really have no clue any more.

I'm assuming, or completely guessing, that it will stop clubs pulling out to avoid contracts kicking in. If it's guaranteed and of a decent level of funding for as long as doors are closed then it should keep clubs afloat. Whether a season behind closed doors is of any use to anyone is another matter.

 

[StephenMac]

The BBC are suggesting the member club's will be given a sum each month to cover lost net gate receipts only and that the total lump sum for the league is expected to be in the ballpark of two to three million pounds a month.

I would suggest that, if true, will leave a shortfall at many clubs.

I think it will too. But then the argument could be made that clubs will have been contingency planning during the summer for reduced capacities and so might be OK if the funding at least tallies with those plans. I'd have pretty limited sympathy for any club that has been planning for business as usual.

A season behind closed doors is still ridiculous though.

 

[scousedom]

Worth considering perhaps that a season behind closed doors is ridiculous for fans, but may not be so for players. I bet they would much rather play and maintain/further their careers.

 

[pettyboy]

Hard to get scouted when there's no one there to watch you

 

[scousedom]

Hard to get scouted when there's no one there to watch you

They’ll all be watching DHFCTV though.

 

[StephenMac]

Worth considering perhaps that a season behind closed doors is ridiculous for fans, but may not be so for players. I bet they would much rather play and maintain/further their careers.

I'm sure they would but then you get down to the fundamental question of what do football clubs exist for. I wouldn't see furthering players' careers as being at the top of the list of answers.

That probably sounds a bit callous but I don't see it as the biggest issue.

 

[pettyboy]

They’ll all be watching DHFCTV though.

No doubt they will. But rightly or wrongly, scouting has always been about the 'feel' of a player. Watching them live and in the flesh. This really comes through in Michael Calvin's book on football scouts 'The Nowhere Men'.

 

[pettyboy]

I'm sure they would but then you get down to the fundamental question of what do football clubs exist for. I wouldn't see furthering players' careers as being at the top of the list of answers.

That probably sounds a bit callous but I don't see it as the biggest issue.

Also 100% agree with this. We're the exception at our level of being a club that has furthered players' careers. But first and foremost, I believe local clubs should be civic institutions, not centres of excellence (obviously they can end up being both).

 

[scousedom]

Also 100% agree with this. We're the exception at our level of being a club that has furthered players' careers. But first and foremost, I believe local clubs should be civic institutions, not centres of excellence (obviously they can end up being both).

Okay but if for exceptional reasons they can’t temporarily be one of those things (or they can’t to the same extent) it doesn’t mean they should stop being the other albeit secondary one.

Look I don’t want to get into a pointless online argument, all I was trying to do was say as much as this is annoying for us it’s probably beneficial, physically mentally and financially, for a group of people for whom we have respect and affection. So if you want to cheer yourself up with that thought, then you can. If not, fine by me too.

 

[pettyboy]

ScouseDomVose

 

[Paula_G]

Hard to get scouted when there's no one there to watch you

Checking the Premier League admission rules a while back which presumably would be the same across all “elite” football there was a provision for admitting scouts...

 

[Pink Panther]

I'm sure they would but then you get down to the fundamental question of what do football clubs exist for. I wouldn't see furthering players' careers as being at the top of the list of answers.

That probably sounds a bit callous but I don't see it as the biggest issue.

It's barking mad. Elite non-league football will basically become a nationalised industry funded by the government. Surely the whole point of professional football is that people pay to watch it, but we can't.

 

[pinknblue]

Checking the Premier League admission rules a while back which presumably would be the same across all “elite” football there was a provision for admitting scouts...

Surely that must be sexist? Equal opportunities dictate you should also admit girl guides!

 

[Moroccan Sunset]

Are there any plans to stream Tuesday's match?

 

[Paula_G]

Are there any plans to stream Tuesday's match?

Curious one here but the Google Calendar date is now showing the home game with Concord as postponed... Is there something I’ve missed as nothing on either clubs’ Twitter feed. Just wondering if this is a slip up by the authors in relation to the following week’s FA Cup tie?

 

[Pink Panther]

Curious one here but the Google Calendar date is now showing the home game with Concord as postponed... Is there something I’ve missed as nothing on either clubs’ Twitter feed. Just wondering if this is a slip up by the authors in relation to the following week’s FA Cup tie?

I was told by a club official before yesterday's match that it's off, so I'm sure that's correct, but it doesn't yet seem to have been officially announced. We could have insisted that Concord play twice in 48 hours but are hopeful it might get delayed until spectators can attend. (I assume the normal rule about postponed games having to be played within 42 days of the original date will be relaxed for this reason.)

 

[AveryDave]

Are we due any new kits for this season?

Sorry to ask that here, didn’t seem to warrant it’s own thread, this one seemed like the best fit. No puns intended, obviously.

 

[Pink Panther]

Are we due any new kits for this season?

Sorry to ask that here, didn’t seem to warrant it’s own thread, this one seemed like the best fit. No puns intended, obviously.

The kit we wore yesterday is this season's second kit. (Basically last season's third kit with minor alterations to sponsor logos and navy numbers instead of the rather silly pink on white of last season.)

I'm told there will be no all pink kit this time.

I believe the kits are due to be officially released this week. The home one sounds fairly similar to the promotion season kit of three years ago, mostly navy with pink sleeves.

 

[AveryDave]

Interesting comment from Chester’s joint manager - after the reassurance given by the National League to get teams to start the season, apparently there’s been radio silence ever since.

 

[Roger D]

Looks like the season is basically shot in terms of attending matches. The RFL have reported the government has advised them to work on the basis that spectators wont be back until April at the earliest.

Not exactly a shock but that's the first time I've seen that date cited.

Rugby League

www.rugby-league.com

 

[Roger D]

Ollie Bayliss is reporting 5 Conference North/South clubs will receive central funding of £36k a month. The rest receive £30k a month.

So much for replacing lost gate income etc. as the disparity in gate levels far exceeds that financial gap.

Edited to say the top tier clubs get a minimum of £84k per month.

 

[StephenMac]

Unsurprisingly they've absolutely bollocksed it up. Look out for Concord buying a club yacht.

 

[bkbk]

I can probably guess but any idea of how that compares to expectations?

 

[Al Crane]

I can probably guess but any idea of how that compares to expectations?

Mindboogling?
F**ked?
Expected?