[Town_Fan]

JonB, on 21 April 2024 - 03:51 PM, said:

Talk is they could get promoted next season, a deal is now in place but wasn’t in place before the deadline required by the efl.

Yeah thats just not the case. The council said they would offer the lease but there would be a break calsue when the stadium is sold so that the new owners aren't obliged to honour the lease. The league rightfully said that didnt meet their requirements.

[Osborne again]

Poor all round to be honest. Aren't we all glad we're a league two club next season.

[satnav]

Presumably the EFL and National league have acted now because the worst case scenario would be for Gateshead to have won the play off final and then launched a legal challenge against the ban on them joining the EFL. Whilst they would have little chance of winning in court any case would have dragged on for a couple of months putting all plans for the new season in utter chaos.

[JonB]

Town_Fan, on 21 April 2024 - 04:53 PM, said:

Yeah thats just not the case. The council said they would offer the lease but there would be a break calsue when the stadium is sold so that the new owners aren't obliged to honour the lease. The league rightfully said that didnt meet their requirements.

Yeh I read it on Twitter earlier from someone who covers the national league but then since read other stuff that says it wasn’t the case.

[paulwardle]

Ernie Ernie Ernie, on 21 April 2024 - 12:53 PM, said:

What a fkin farce.

Bromley and Barnet will be oissedd off as they have scrapped all year to earn that advantage of only having to play one game.

Gateshead are p off cos they have been kicked out.



Aldershot will be p off as they finished 8th and can argue they should be in the play offs.



Alty will be p off as they finished above Solihull but have to play the two games.

Just a total monumental fk up.

Yes Gateshead knew the entry rules but how the rest of it has panned out is a joke.

That sums it up very succinctly and just demonstrates what a **** league we are leaving!!

Look at the fixtures as well over the past couple of weeks all because the likes of Halifax don’t have a pitch fit for purpose.

Shame on Gateshead Council as well. I would have thought the Club would have a legal right to renew their lease?

[Westbars Spireite]

It doesn't sound like the issue is of the NL's creation, though the way it's been dealt with has been absolutely farcical as expected.

[azul]

paulwardle, on 22 April 2024 - 06:10 AM, said:

That sums it up very succinctly and just demonstrates what a **** league we are leaving!!

Look at the fixtures as well over the past couple of weeks all because the likes of Halifax don’t have a pitch fit for purpose.

Shame on Gateshead Council as well. I would have thought the Club would have a legal right to renew their lease?

As more information surfaces it looks to me the NL carry the least blame.

It is the EFL that is banning Gateshead and not banning Halifax
It is the council and the club that is unable to reach a solution over the tenancy
It is the council that owns Halifax’s stadium not the NL
The NL seems to have fought Gateshead’s corner. The only other solution was to announce 8th place to compete in the playoffs and you can guarantee that would have had people moaning.

Lots of valid complaints about the NL but this episode probably isn’t one of them

Edit
Just checked the NL rules
APPENDIX B
THE NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAY-OFFS SEASON 2023/24 COMPETITION RULES
1. At the end of the season, the Clubs who finish in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th& 7th at the end of the Playing Season in accordance with Membership Rule 12 and meet the Qualification Criteria for The Football League as at 1st March and meet the Criteria for Admission to Full Membership of the Football Conference Limited shall be eligible to enter the end of season National League Play-Offs Competition “Competition”.
If a Club is not eligible to enter the Competition then it shall not take part in any play-off matches. In that event such Club shall not be replaced and the Competition structure and draw shall be adjusted as necessary by the Board on the basis of the remaining Clubs’ final league positions.

Therefore the NL followed their rules to the letter

This post has been edited by azul: 22 April 2024 - 07:29 AM

[paulwardle]

At least Alty now getting a bye rather than SHM.

This post has been edited by paulwardle: 22 April 2024 - 10:34 AM

[isleaiw1]

Interesting that you have to have a ground for next ten years but you dont have to show you are financially viable for the next ten years. Going concern in accounts is only that you will survive 12 months from time of signing accounts...

Seems an odd thing to concentrate on, grounds are much easier to obtain than suitable people who can fund a football team!

[azul]

isleaiw1, on 22 April 2024 - 10:34 AM, said:

Interesting that you have to have a ground for next ten years but you dont have to show you are financially viable for the next ten years. Going concern in accounts is only that you will survive 12 months from time of signing accounts...

Seems an odd thing to concentrate on, grounds are much easier to obtain than suitable people who can fund a football team!

I think suitable owners definitely go on the EFL's 'Too Difficult' pile.

From NL frying pan into the EFL fire.

[Painted Wagon]

paulwardle, on 22 April 2024 - 10:27 AM, said:

At least Alty now getting a bye rather than SHM.

How does that work?

[Mr Mercury]

Painted Wagon, on 22 April 2024 - 01:38 PM, said:

How does that work?

They were the highest placed team in the PO q/f spots so by the NL rules they get the bye

[Painted Wagon]

Mr Mercury, on 22 April 2024 - 01:42 PM, said:

They were the highest placed team in the PO q/f spots so by the NL rules they get the bye

Makes sense, thanks MM

[Town_Fan]

Painted Wagon, on 22 April 2024 - 01:38 PM, said:

How does that work?

Alty go straight through to their game with Bromley. Solihull and Halifax will play each other for the right to play Barnet away.

[danblue]

Town_Fan, on 22 April 2024 - 01:46 PM, said:

Alty go straight through to their game with Bromley. Solihull and Halifax will play each other for the right to play Barnet away.

What a farce.
I sympathise with Gateshead (think they are still trying to fight the decision) but surely Aldershot move into the frame to make it fair??

[BlueRodneyFern]

Town_Fan, on 22 April 2024 - 01:46 PM, said:

Alty go straight through to their game with Bromley. Solihull and Halifax will play each other for the right to play Barnet away.

Still not right though as Barnet and Bromley have fought all year to finish 2nd and 3rd and Alty only have 1 game but the National league just make the rules up as they go along

[azul]

BlueRodneyFern, on 22 April 2024 - 01:56 PM, said:

Still not right though as Barnet and Bromley have fought all year to finish 2nd and 3rd and Alty only have 1 game but the National league just make the rules up as they go along

No they don't. They followed the rules 100%. If in doubt read the rule posted above

[azul]

danblue, on 22 April 2024 - 01:54 PM, said:

What a farce.
I sympathise with Gateshead (think they are still trying to fight the decision) but surely Aldershot move into the frame to make it fair??

Why they finished 8th and deserve nothing. Imagine if they had been pipped to 8th by Oldham and the NL broke their own rules and let them in the playoffs

This post has been edited by azul: 22 April 2024 - 02:02 PM

[DerbySpireite59]

frearsghost, on 21 April 2024 - 02:45 PM, said:

Didn't Brighton play at Gillingham a few years ago for a few months?

They did. What's the difference in context though?

JonB, on 21 April 2024 - 03:00 PM, said:

They were already in the league though, Coventry have played at Northampton and Birmingham in recent seasons as well. One thing kicking current clubs out of the league compared to rules for new member teams coming in.

Exactly.

[DerbySpireite59]

frearsghost, on 21 April 2024 - 03:35 PM, said:

What would be the point of Gateshead competing next season knowing they cannot be promoted? What an awful situation for them. 

JonB (above) says they do have a long term deal in place, but it started after the cut off date.