The National League released a statement this morning that clubs of the North and South divisions will be suspended for two weeks due to clubs protesting the financial changes made by DCMS.
The changes mean that the funding, which was initially meant to be handed out as grants, will now be issued as loans. DCMS said grants will only be handed out in exceptional circumstances.
At the start of the season, National League clubs were told that there will be £20million to cover a six-month period with a £10million grant available from the DCMS for the first three months of the season. The league originally stated that the money will be given as grants throughout the season.
The season started in October after clubs were promised financial backing, preventing clubs going into debt due to no money coming in from supporters. This was due to games being played behind closed doors.
The clubs were told earlier this week that now the first three months of funding expired, a total of £11m is available to claim as loans over the next three months, despite the league’s pleas for grants. The members of the National League North and South were then encouraged to write a letter to their local MPs to attempt to change the DCMS decision.
However, DCMS claimed that it was never their intention, but if clubs were told this they would never of started their campaign as some clubs couldn’t support themselves financially during the pandemic.
The league was expecting clubs to play another week of games and incur another week’s wages without any clarity on the situation.
On Wednesday, the National League clubs were given three options regarding their season after expressing loans were the only source of government funding available.
The three options:
- Individual loans
- The National League take the loan and distribute money as grants
or
- suspend the season.
Around the National League, many teams from the North and South divisions made clear that they were not going to compete and play matches until clarity was given. Twelve teams in the North and four in the South issued a statement saying they wanted to stop.
The League hopes to continue talks with DCMS in a hope that the funding can be converted to grants rather than loans. However, if nothing changes, it’s likely step two of the non-league pyramid will not be completed this season.
The National League released a statement on Friday morning which was as followed: "Following the review of the feedback from clubs in connection to the recent clubs meeting, a board meeting this morning decided to halt the participation in the North/South divisions for a two-week period, effective immediately.
"As a result, tomorrow's games are formally postponed."
The National League made no comment about games in their top division.
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