Urban75 Home About Offline BrixtonBuzz Contact

Dulwich Hamlet and Coronavirus

Based on the FA's statement (below), the women's first and reserve team seasons are now confirmed as finished and all results will be expunged. A real shame for the womens teams which have been one of the highlights of this season for me.

(From the Non League Paper)

Confirmation of the end of the 2019/20 season. The following statement has this afternoon been released by the FA.

We have been working collaboratively with the National League System (NLS), the women’s football pyramid and the wider grassroots game since the outbreak of COVID-19 on how to conclude the 2019-20 season in the most appropriate way possible.

These are challenging circumstances for English football and all decisions taken are in the best interests of the game and in consultation across key stakeholders. Our primary concern will always be for the safety and welfare of clubs, players, staff, officials, volunteers and supporters during this unprecedented time.

Today’s steps take into account the financial impact during this uncertain period, whilst considering the fairest method on how the sporting outcomes for the season will be decided with the integrity of the leagues in mind.


National League System

The NLS and the women’s football pyramid were able to build a consensus amongst their leagues and, where possible, aimed to create a consistent approach across all leagues, whilst taking into account the unique characteristics of each individual league.

As a result, The FA and NLS steps three to six have reached a consensus that their 2019-20 season will now be brought to an end, and all results will be expunged. This will mean no promotion or relegation of clubs between NLS steps three to six, and no promotion to NLS step two. These decisions will also apply to the leagues and clubs who play at NLS step seven.

We will continue to assist and support the National League (NLS steps one and two) to determine the outcome of its 2019-20 season as quickly as possible. The planned implementation of the restructure of the NLS will also now be deferred until the start of the 2021-22 season.

Furthermore, we can now confirm that we have decided that all grassroots football is concluded for the 2019-20 season. This will allow the game to move forward and to commence planning for next season. Our County Football Associations (CFAs) will be supporting grassroots leagues over the coming days to determine how they should close out their current competitions.

Where appropriate, the above decisions will be put to The FA Council for ratification. Throughout this period we continue to seek guidance in respect of the government’s financial support packages relative to COVID-19 and how they are applicable to clubs in the NLS, the women’s football pyramid and the wider grassroots game.”


Women’s football

The FA, FA Women’s Board members and the Women’s Football Conference have consulted and reached a consensus regarding the women’s football pyramid.

The FA and the leagues within tiers three to seven have reached a consensus to bring the season to an immediate end and all results will be expunged. This will mean no promotion or relegation of clubs between tiers three to seven. Agreement has also been reached to end the Regional Talent Clubs season, which was due to conclude in April 2020.

We remain in consultation with the Barclays FA Women’s Super League and FA Women’s Championship Board and clubs regarding the most appropriate way to complete the current season, including for the Barclays FA Women’s Super League Academy.

FA competitions

With the 2019-20 Emirates FA Cup, Women’s FA Cup, Buildbase FA Trophy and Buildbase FA Vase all at advanced stages, we are reviewing all options as we seek to complete these competitions whenever it is safe and appropriate to do so. Clubs involved are close to reaching a major final and for those clubs and supporters we will do all we can to keep the Wembley dream alive.

In respect of The FA Youth Cup, The FA County Youth Cup, The FA Sunday Cup and The FA Inter-League Cup, we are also seeking to complete these competitions if it is feasible to do so.

We will also continue planning for FA competitions to take place for the 2020-21 season.
 
In the Guardian too

The season was halted on 16 March after the Football Association advised “all grassroots football in England is postponed for the foreseeable future” owing to the coronavirus outbreak, with matches initially scheduled to restart on 3 April. But after a meeting of its board on Tuesday, a statement from the National League confirmed fixtures will be suspended indefinitely.

“In consideration of the very serious and unprecedented national public health emergency caused by coronavirus, the board has taken the decision to suspend the National League, National League North and National League South competitions indefinitely,” it read.

“The National League is obtaining specialist legal advice, is consulting regularly with the FA and other stakeholders, and is committed to involving its member clubs in a decision on how best to conclude the 2019-20 season.”

 
It's being reported the Premier League have told their clubs that play - even behind closed doors - can only resume once widespread testing has been introduced. Everyone involved in the match, players, officials, TV people, medical people and so on, would have to be tested before the match can be played. Difficult to see non-league being able to resume under those restrictions, even if the clubs want to.
 
The 2019/20 National League season is officially over. Relegation and promotion issues still to be finalised.


Very much the right decision. What many do not realise is that player contracts run until May 2nd or whenever the season end (whichever is later). To wait any longer would mean clubs going to the wall at a rapid rate.
 
Any reason why a team like Tonbridge haven't massively got away with one? Their wage bill is covered by the government to an extent far more than their crowds would have done. Corona seems to have saved more clubs at non league than it killed.
 
Very much the right decision. What many do not realise is that player contracts run until May 2nd or whenever the season end (whichever is later). To wait any longer would mean clubs going to the wall at a rapid rate.
Indeed the correct decision.
But what does it mean re relegation?
If all the other teams with games in hand over us win said games, we're 19th.
 
Indeed the correct decision.
But what does it mean re relegation?
If all the other teams with games in hand over us win said games, we're 19th.

And how may get relegated under normal circumstances?
And what clubs will replace us since there is no promotion from the leagues below?

Apart from that. Definite relegation.
 
I believe two teams were scheduled to get relegated from this division this season. It was already likely to become three down from the two lower tiers due to the Bury situation, with the second bottom team with the most points reprieved.

However; this may not now happen as the Conference have said they will put various promotion / relegation proposals to the membership to vote on. Realistically this will be impacted by what the EFL proposes re promotion/relegation to/from League Two so there must be the potential that this vote will only occur after that is sorted. (There seems to be growing EFL support for regionalising Divisions 1 & 2 which may complicate the EFL vote). I wouldn't be totally surprised if Barrow are elected into membership of the EFL and the rest of the promotion/relegation scenario is declared void. That would leave the Conference National one team down. I also suspect the proposed reshuffle of league sizes etc will be pushed back one season.

Where it will start getting interesting is if multiple Conference members go bust, or the Conference loses multiple teams to the EFL to cover teams who have gone bust at that level.
 
And how may get relegated under normal circumstances?
And what clubs will replace us since there is no promotion from the leagues below?

Apart from that. Definite relegation.

There will be no relegation because steps 3-7 already void.

League was to be 2 down and increased to 24 teams. That can't happen now.

Corona has not saved any clubs as far as I know but may help some clubs cash flow. Remember to Furlough staff everything had to be on PAYE so some clubs will suffer because of their payment methods.

On our case we have had no income since 14 March and have had to pay 100% of wages for March before recovering any money.
 
Back
Top Bottom