Dulwich Hamlet and Coronavirus

[Roger D]

Hamlet are one of 17 North and South teams to sign a statement taking a pop at the league for threatening teams who don't play with action.

The 17 have also stated they will submit their votes quickly and ask other teams to do the same.

Edited to say Concord seem to be backtracking and now say they will play on Tuesday so it may be down to 16.

 

[PartisanDulwich]

We are very fortunate that the support we have built up in recent years has been primarily based on community solidarity, rather than success in moving through the Leagues and League status has never been set as an objective by any official (I have heard) -
Our attendances in recent years while struggling in the relegation zone has been truly amazing (even if you accept a loss in atmosphere is made up by takings in the bar/food).
I am hopeful the vast majority of our support will remain with us what ever League we play in, that said not keen on any voluntary relegation or phoenix club.

I am sure the Club have a number of red lines and I have faith the Club officials will make the right decisions - they have called it right on ever occasion during this crisis
It will be our job to not only offer critical support but also convey those decisions to supporters and the wider community (so the narrative will be important)
Finally, I fear a number of other Clubs (with proud records) will not make it out of this crisis, without incurring serious debts that if it does not finish them off this season will be terminal in the long term
Certainly, not arguing Dulwich Hamlet are to big too fail and that's why we cannot rely on anyone else but ourselves and our supporters to get us through this

 

[Pink Panther]

A League Board member speaks. (Spoiler, it's all Boris' fault apparently.)

He also basically admits the league assumed grants would continue and didn't ask for confirmation of this before starting the season. Oops.

Chairman of one of Hampshire’s three National League clubs ‘feels let down’ by the Government over funding crisis

The chairman of one of Hampshire’s three National League clubs feels ‘let down’ by the Government over the funding crisis which could see the season curtailed.

www.portsmouth.co.uk

This sums up the myopic muddled thinking in a nutshell.

So he'd like to continue the season but his club needs £50k-£60k a month for the next 5 months to do that. This will only happen if either someone gives them a shedload of cash or supporters are allowed back, neither of which is likely to happen any time soon. We've already had over a month with no money coming in, therefore the season needs to end before everyone loses even more money and gets deeper into debt. Not after yet another month of dither and delay, but now.

Just to be clear about it, because it's easy to confuse those half-baked thoughts with those of a supporter insufficiently acquainted with reality, this is one of the 8 members of the League Management Committee who are supposed to be showing guidance and leadership to act in the best interests of all member clubs.

 

[Roger D]

It's worse than that...

The sums Shahid quotes don't tally with a previous statement in the Aldershot paper two weeks ago. Then he effectively defended the higher flat allocation for the Prem by saying Shots running costs were over £100k per month yet he's now saying they need £250-300k to get to the end of the season (and what about the rest of summer?)

Shots must be getting a huge number of fans watching their live streams if they are paying around half their cost base from income each month at the moment...

Shots generally run at a loss, often covered by shares sales. However; I believe their shares are all but fully allocated now.

Woking fans like to jibe about Shahid's magic calculator after his unsuccessful spell there. Hmm.

 

[Roger D]

Chippenham have called the league's bluff and confirmed they won't play on Saturday irrespective of the threatened sanctions.

Edited to say Kettering are also refusing to play.

 

[JoeBoy1959]

Aren't we due to play Braintree away on Saturday? Anyone know what's happening?

 

[Roger D]

Unless the club state otherwise tomorrow, we are playing.

Curzon Ashton are now also refusing to play. Billericay have said all contracted players will be replaced by members of their U23 team so they don't have to recall the contracted players from furlough. If the season plays on, I can see more teams doing that.

On a different planet, AFC Fylde are demanding the league take firm action against those who don't play but olay in the trophy.

Edited to say Slough Town are also now refusing to play on Saturday

 

[Pink Panther]

Woking fans like to jibe about Shahid's magic calculator after his unsuccessful spell there. Hmm.

I didn't realise he'd been there. I'm always wary of "professional" football directors who move from club to club. They often seem to be the sort of people who make their money by running companies into the ground, liquidating them, then start a new one. Some of them appear to be borderline long firm fraudsters.

 

[Roger D]

Shahid left Woking after a vote of no confidence.

Azeem: The accounts prove my case

SHAHID AZEEM insists he has been vindicated by Woking Football Club’s accounts for the year ending May 2010 after being accused of failing to run the club in a financially responsible manner. The f…

byfleetnews.wordpress.com

 

[Roger D]

Bath City have confirmed this morning that they won't be playing tomorrow.

 

[Roger D]

Important statement from DHFC

Dulwich Hamlet Football Club and Dulwich Hamlet Supporters’ Trust Statement to fans, supporters and stakeholders February 5, 2021

The club is unable to fulfil its fixtures due to the League’s inability to resolve the reason for the suspension.

www.pitchero.com

 

[YTC]

New statement from club and trust here and attached: https://pitchero.com/clubs/dulwichhamlet/news/dulwich-hamlet-football-club-and-dulwich-hamlet-supporters-trust-statement-to-fans-supporters-and-stakeholders-february-5-2021-2597900.html… #DHFC

 

[editor]

Buzzed. I'm sure I could have done better with the wordy title, mind.

Dulwich Hamlet say they are unable to fulfil their fixtures due to the League’s inability to resolve the reason for the league suspension

Dulwich Hamlet FC and Dulwich Hamlet Supporters’ Trust say the future of the 128 year old community club is now at risk because of the League’s insistence that games must go ahead while…

www.brixtonbuzz.com

 

[Blitzwalker]

I think so far, Bath, Chippenham, Slough and ourselves refusing to play tomorrow. Perfectly correct decision IMHO.

 

[Roger D]

Curzon Ashton and Kettering Town in the North as well.

Heading towards 10% of the league's membership.

Edited to say add Spennymoor too. Quite a classy statement from them.

Statement from the Chief Executive & Managing Director | Spennymoor Town FC

Spennymoor Town can confirm that the club has voted to null and void the 2020/21 Vanarama National League North season. All of the decisions the club has made throughout the global health crisis have been guided by one key principle: ensuring the safety of our players, staff, volunteers and...

spennymoortownfc.co.uk

 

[Blitzwalker]

Curzon Ashton and Kettering Town in the North as well.

Heading towards 10% of the league's membership.

Edited to say add Spennymoor too. Quite a classy statement from them.

Statement from the Chief Executive & Managing Director | Spennymoor Town FC

Spennymoor Town can confirm that the club has voted to null and void the 2020/21 Vanarama National League North season. All of the decisions the club has made throughout the global health crisis have been guided by one key principle: ensuring the safety of our players, staff, volunteers and...

spennymoortownfc.co.uk

Chester have just tweeted that they won't be playing tomorrow, or until the situation is resolved.

 

[scousedom]

New statement from club and trust here and attached: https://pitchero.com/clubs/dulwichhamlet/news/dulwich-hamlet-football-club-and-dulwich-hamlet-supporters-trust-statement-to-fans-supporters-and-stakeholders-february-5-2021-2597900.html… #DHFC

Yes lads.

 

[Dodger]

Absolutely the right decision and if the league want to sanction clubs then fuck em.

I know there’s arguments going on about weather the club should have ambition or not. But if it means having to deal with shit like this every year I’d take an eternity in the isthmian with trips to Lewes, Whitehawk and Folkestone over staying out or moving up.

 

[StephenMac]

Some of the horse shit justifications coming from clubs who want to carry on because they fancy rolling the dice on a pop at promotion is pretty extraordinary.

And now we have NLS clubs cynically voting against resolution 1 so as to reduce their own division's influence over the outcome.

The only people who'd really want to be in National League South are those who have yet to experience it.

What a fucking business.

 

[AveryDave]

The entire process they've come up with is a racket to try and serve their own interests, from relying on the 28 day nonsense to try and force clubs to keep playing and tick off another month, to giving their favoured clubs ways of influencing the results at every stage. Their amateurishness would be amusing if it wasn't for the damage they can cause.

Whilst I realise the purpose of competitive sport is to win and seek the highest levels of achievement you can, at this point I wouldn't have a problem with us never setting foot in the National League again.

 

[Pink Panther]

I think so far, Bath, Chippenham, Slough and ourselves refusing to play tomorrow. Perfectly correct decision IMHO.

Curzon Ashton and Kettering Town in the North as well.

Heading towards 10% of the league's membership.

Edited to say add Spennymoor too.

Chester have just tweeted that they won't be playing tomorrow, or until the situation is resolved.

Bradford Park Avenue is another, so I reckon that's 9 clubs in total.

I believe the League Management Committee is primarily concerned by a perceived loss of face if they're unable to offer candidates for promotion to the Football League, which in turn may attempt to pull up the drawbridge by cutting the number of promotion places available in future if you believe some rumours. It's all about people protecting their own self interest and playing power politics. Any clubs unable to fend for themselves are just collateral damage to these bastards. A league is supposed to safeguard the best interests of all its members by raising the level for everyone, not devour the weakest from within.

 

[Pink Panther]

I've only just seen this article from a week ago. At least 6 of our players have tested positive since the season began and one has been unable to play or train for almost 6 weeks and counting.

Dulwich Hamlet boss: National League made right call to suspend season – but decision took too long

Dulwich Hamlet manager Gavin Rose has welcomed the National League South season being put on hold – but reckons it should have happened sooner. Last weekend’s matches were postponed with the …

londonnewsonline.co.uk

 

[Nivag]

I've only just seen this article from a week ago. At least 6 of our players have tested positive since the season began and one has been unable to play or train for almost 6 weeks and counting.

Dulwich Hamlet boss: National League made right call to suspend season – but decision took too long

Dulwich Hamlet manager Gavin Rose has welcomed the National League South season being put on hold – but reckons it should have happened sooner. Last weekend’s matches were postponed with the …

londonnewsonline.co.uk

this was something I'd not heard before

Dulwich only pay their players a wage if their matches are on, a break from the normal procedure due to the uncertainty over the campaign.

 

[Roger D]

I didn't know that but am not surprised. Many Conference clubs havebalready confirmed they did that. I suspect it may have been recommended by either the league or FA pre-season.

 

[PartisanDulwich]

Surely - questions soon about the ethics of staying in such a League - accept easier said than done...but
is it not the time to also raise the issue of League governance, ethics and objectives longer term

Fully accept secondary, to the immediate crisis we face

We cannot speak on behalf of other Clubs , up to them to decide their future

But DHFC officials set a great example in informing supporters and in its leadership

 

[Paula_G]

this was something I'd not heard before

But presumably that pay break only applies if the game is off due to circumstances beyond the control of the club such as Covid & maybe the weather. And of course the players will still have to be paid should the season be extended to accommodate breaks, which them makes me wonder what might happen where one of those games is rescheduled especially where there are two or more games where there might have been one? The question then arises about Saturday’s game and whether players & management of both sides should get paid...

 

[Roger D]

Presumably the contract players are paid per week not game. I suspect the 2020/21 contract states they are paid each week the club plays.

I'd imagine the players will be furloughed now on the grounds we are not playing so their labour is not required. Not playing won't save much money if the players remain paid by the club - probably the biggest single expense.

 

[Paula_G]

Presumably the contract players are paid per week not game. I suspect the 2020/21 contract states they are paid each week the club plays.

I'd imagine the players will be furloughed now on the grounds we are not playing so their labour is not required. Not playing won't save much money if the players remain paid by the club - probably the biggest single expense.

As far I remember Contracted players are paid per week so what I was trying to explain perhaps in a muddled way that under this players would be losing a week’s pay under this system each time a game is called off & rescheduled into a week when they were already due to play. The only way a player would get back that week would be is games were added on at the end of the season and the season extended by the same number of weeks...

 

[bkbk]

Quite enjoying the NL not even recognising that half their member clubs are refusing to play this weekend. Not a mention of it anywhere. Abysmal league.

 

[Pink Panther]

Quite enjoying the NL not even recognising that half their member clubs are refusing to play this weekend. Not a mention of it anywhere. Abysmal league.

Some of the matches would have been postponed anyway due to FA Trophy ties, which are taking place, but it does appear to be something of an elephant in the room.