Dulwich Hamlet and Coronavirus

[Pink Panther]

It's barely more than a one size fits all approach and we're going to be the biggest losers. We'll have lost more matchday revenue than anyone else. Yet those with a sugar daddy, whether it's a Dorking pushing for yet another promotion or those with a lower profile benefactor putting in just enough each year to sustain an artificially high level, will be able to spend more than us.

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

The National League is to distribute the £10m support package based on attendances, meaning seven ex-EFL clubs receive a larger sum.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Al Crane]

It's barely more than a one size fits all approach and we're going to be the biggest losers. We'll have lost more matchday revenue than anyone else. Yet those with a sugar daddy, whether it's a Dorking pushing for yet another promotion or those with a lower profile benefactor putting in just enough each year to sustain an artificially high level, will be able to spend more than us.

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

The National League is to distribute the £10m support package based on attendances, meaning seven ex-EFL clubs receive a larger sum.

www.bbc.co.uk

Really poor way for the BBC to report it, making it sound like the National League are favouring ex-league clubs whereas the real story is that whatever messed up way they have calculated the payments means that clubs like us are going to suffer for having a sustainable business model. I saw that Oliver Ash of Maidstone is considering taking action with other clubs to quash the decision and get funding redistributed appropriately (calcs by pompeydunc).

 

[pompeydunc]

Absolutely livid by this. It's the kind of thing that will only get passing interest, as the headlines appear like their is some kind of fair distribution, but it's far from that. They have made the very lightest nod towards being based on attendance. This may actually help a legal argument mind.

Notts County are set to be the biggest losers, assuming they have put together a squad based on an average attendance of 5000. However, I expect given their size, then they might be able to absorb some of this in the longer term accounts. In reality, then I think this will impact us the hardest, as being most reliant on the gate, and less able to cope with financial shocks.

Legal action seems to be the only way to resolve this, but I am not clear on what basis this would be done. I have no idea whether the National League Articles would require a vote on this type of issue, of if its delegated to management. The majority of clubs actually are set to benefit by the model, so not sure a vote would even go our way.

Shambles.

 

[pinknblue]

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

...or maybe a concord?

 

[pinknblue]

I suspect that however the money is split, some clubs will be unhappy. Perhaps they could have distributed the cash to clubs in proportion to gates, but that neither takes account of the price of entrance nor the amount that's being paid to players which is probably generally higher in the National League. My major gripe with the distribution is that nearly 61% of the money has gone to the NL clubs and only 39% to the remaining two-thirds (NLS/NLN) of clubs. That sounds very wrong to me. I'd have thought a 50/25/25 split would have been fairer. It definitely doesn't feel right that sone clubs (Boreham Wood, Wealdstone) are going to make huge profits from the distribution while others, including ourselves, are going to suffer badly.

 

[Paula_G]

Some might see a distribution based solely on declared attendance figures as somewhat akin to the Premier League’s Big 5/6/7/8 (whatever it is these days ) claiming entitlement to the bulk of football’s income but what is really needed here is some sort of Duckworth Lewis system that takes a whole variety of factors into account. After all how much of the big NLS clubs attendances like Dulwich Hamlet or Maidstone United can be accounted for in season ticket sales or in discounted & free tickets which other clubs do not offer. If clubs divulged actual gate receipts then a fairer picture might be gained. Do we know what sponsorship & advertising might have been lost due to the season not starting. Ground lettings have been lost which may or may not have been recompensed via government hand outs, similarly use of facilities for outside events, weddings, parties, bar mitzvahs etc. Factor in these along with players, management and other staff wages & expenses and a more accurate picture might be achieved.

 

[Pink Panther]

If clubs divulged actual gate receipts then a fairer picture might be gained.

I'd been under the impression that this was how it was going to be calculated. It would also have the advantage that any club illegally underdeclaring its income/expenditure for tax dodging purposes would lose out.

During the three month period covered by the subsidy clubs can expect to play seven home league matches. For the smaller clubs 30k is probably more than they would take over seven home games, yet our £36k probably equates to roughly two matchdays' gate receipts.

 

[Paula_G]

For the smaller clubs 30k is probably more than they would take over seven home games, yet our £36k probably equates to roughly two matchdays' gate receipts.

Based on personal experience of running the turnstiles the average per supporter at Champion Hill is less than (almost certainly) every other club in the National League thanks to the range of discounted & free admission, along with a large season ticket holder base. That said it’s not so much as to totally knock out the disparity.

 

[Paula_G]

It would also have the advantage that any club illegally underdeclaring its income/expenditure for tax dodging purposes would lose out.

When I mentioned “divulged” I meant publicly rather than to the officers of the National League so that those basing their position solely on the physical numbers of attendees rather than the financial losses of supporter-less match days which go beyond the money handed over at the turnstiles..

 

[Pink Panther]

A frank appraisal of the funding decision from one of Maidstone's owners. It sounds like some of the smaller National Division clubs have an undue level of influence on the National League Board:

Directors' Blog: Stones co-owner hits out at misuse of grant - Maidstone United FC

By club co-owner Terry Casey The distribution of the £10million grant from the National Lottery to the Vanarama National League has left me utterly confused and bitterly disappointed. Maidstone United Football Club have many things to be proud of: one being the way that we run the business in a...

www.maidstoneunited.co.uk

 

[Roger D]

The distribution method used by the league has been raised in Parliament by a Tory MP representing a York constituency.

 

[Stuart Fordyce]

A frank appraisal of the funding decision from one of Maidstone's owners. It sounds like some of the smaller National Division clubs have an undue level of influence on the National League Board:

Directors' Blog: Stones co-owner hits out at misuse of grant - Maidstone United FC

By club co-owner Terry Casey The distribution of the £10million grant from the National Lottery to the Vanarama National League has left me utterly confused and bitterly disappointed. Maidstone United Football Club have many things to be proud of: one being the way that we run the business in a...

www.maidstoneunited.co.uk

That's no surprise but still terrible to read.

 

[Al Crane]

Dover's chairman has come out strongly against Maidstone's allegations that National League Board members have looked after their own clubs. Mid-morning on BBC Radio Kent - 22/10/2020 - BBC Sounds A few minutes on the subject from around 3h 46 in.

"The allocation amounts were not decided by the National League board members associated with clubs, because we would have been conflicted". Okay, but even if the NL Board didn't work out the allocations, they did then vote on the proposals which was the point at which they could have decided that the allocations were not fair and not in the best interests of all their member clubs.

Apparently the DCMS and FA worked out the allocations > DCMS is headed up by Secretary of State, Oliver Dowden > who is also the MP for Hertsmere > Boreham Wood FC fall within this constituency > Boreham Wood have done very well out of this...

 

[pettyboy]

Dover's chairman has come out strongly against Maidstone's allegations that National League Board members have looked after their own clubs. Mid-morning on BBC Radio Kent - 22/10/2020 - BBC Sounds A few minutes on the subject from around 3h 46 in.

"The allocation amounts were not decided by the National League board members associated with clubs, because we would have been conflicted". Okay, but even if the NL Board didn't work out the allocations, they did then vote on the proposals which was the point at which they could have decided that the allocations were not fair and not in the best interests of all their member clubs.

Apparently the DCMS worked out the allocations > DCMS is headed up by Secretary of State, Oliver Dowden > who is also the MP for Hertsmere > Boreham Wood FC fall within this constituency > Boreham Wood have done very well out of this...

 

[StephenMac]

View attachment 235482

Not remotely dodgy.

 

[pompeydunc]

View attachment 235482

 

[Cat Daisy]

Not remotely dodgy.

Wasn't their owner the Brexit chap. Maybe returning the favour.

 

[Pink Panther]

Wasn't their owner the Brexit chap. Maybe returning the favour.

Yes, he used the club Twitter account to promote pro-Brexit/Tory stuff a while back. I think it was during the General Election last December.

 

[Roger D]

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

Ben Clasper is quoted in The Athletic today as saying he estimates the club face a £250k shortfall due to this decision.

Maidstone are quoted saying they will have to lay people off

 

[Roger D]

Haven't had time to listen to it yet but today's Price of Football podcast is advertising that it includes a "Dulwich Hamlet NL payout interview". It's top of the list of features so may be substantial. Apparently it's Ben Clasper representing the club.

 

[Jimbob73]

Just listened, great interview with Ben as always. We are so lucky to have people like him in charge of the club. Worrying times though!

 

[Moroccan Sunset]

Just listened, great interview with Ben as always. We are so lucky to have people like him in charge of the club. Worrying times though!

Completely echo this. Regardless of whether I think we should have changed manager, Ben's done wonders for the club and I'm not sure we'd even still be here without him.

 

[Al Crane]

Just listened, great interview with Ben as always. We are so lucky to have people like him in charge of the club. Worrying times though!

Would recommend listening to the whole podcast but if you don't have time then the interview with Ben starts around 34 mins in.

Bit of small talk at the start then discussion about the funding decision. Key takeaway for me was the comment that if the current model of financial assistance from the Government isn't reviewed and amended then we don't have enough money to get through the season.

Ends with a nice plug for our merch, in particular the pink and black scarf with the rainbow!

 

[Cyclodunc]

Completely echo this. Regardless of whether I think we should have changed manager.

You think that?

 

[Moroccan Sunset]

.

 

[Moroccan Sunset]

You think that?

Have I not mentioned it?

 

[StephenMac]

Thought Ben was really good. Pointing out that 7 of 8 NL board members are from lesser supported clubs was splendid. He left it to the hosts and listener to draw their own conclusions about the utter dodginess of it all.

Kevin Day was surprisingly good too.

 

[Cyclodunc]

Does the football season continue through this new lockdown?

 

[Cyclodunc]

Ah. “Elite” sport can continue.

 

[Roger D]

It's expected elite football will continue but organised sport is reported to be stopping below elite level.

Edited to say the FA have said they are awaiting clarification however; the governments pet journalists are reporting non elite sport will cease.