Challenges Ahead of a Restart

[Formic]

Following the news yesterday, various discussions are needed to decide whether the season might continue for Southern League Clubs. Quite reasonably the Southern League is avoiding any announcements until things are ratified, but a good source of where were are come from the tweets of Ollie Bayliss https://twitter.com/Ollie_Bayliss - who is well respected (and well connected) in non-league circles . Although Rushden is in Tier 2, there is the issue of the clubhouse revenue for clubs in that Tier, given they cannot serve fans in the ground, but the bigger issue is the fact there are Tier 3 clubs in the league, who, it appears, won't be able to have any fans at their games.

Those of us that live in Tier 3 areas (like myself) won't be able to travel to Hayden Rd.

Whether that means the league will be suspended, whether certain games will be postponed in the hope the Tier revisions in a fortnight might help, or whether the FA might get further clarification from the government remains to be seen, but it will probably not be announced until next week.

There's also a useful discussion on the FSA website - https://thefsa.org.uk/news/the-situatio ... -lockdown/

[Formic]

Some interesting comments from the North West (Step 5/6) - https://www.nwcfl.com/news-articles.php?id=8334 - especially about the possible holiday fixtures. Would people prefer the (tier 2) holiday fixtures moved to allow people to take better advantage of the Covid Christmas Bubble - or would they regarding going to a holiday fixture part of the festive get-together with their families.

[Three of Diamonds]

It's going to disintegrate into a messy fixtures chaos if this carries on. Teams at our level can't play with closed doors unless there's financial help.
On the plus side, we can move up to 50% capacity. I'm assuming we've re-furloughed our staff.
We could all meet up at our local Tesco though

[StaceyH]

I’m not sure we can go up to 50% capacity as social distancing guidelines still need to be followed - the maximum we can have in the ground under those guidelines is 450.

[sussexdiamond]

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.. At the earliest for the league to resume. The financial support that is in the pipeline has to be grants or compensation, loans are no good. I would not be surprised if Trophy games go ahead as after this next round most of the participants will be Elite clubs who are receiving cash anyway for playing bcd.

[Formic]

Latest Fa guidelines - https://www.thefa.com/news/2020/dec/01/ ... all-011220 - summarised in a chart on Ollie Bayliss twitter feed -

For Tier 2 the excellent efforts already made by the club appear to fit well - but there are still the questionmarks over the changes to bar / catering rules that have become somewhat muddled with local authority inputs now appearing relevant.

The key milestone is the result of a vote by all of the member clubs at Steps 3 and 4 (Southern, Northern Prem and Isthmian). They are due to be cast today, with the results due tomorrow. It's not clear if the result will be taken at an overall level, a Step Level, or at an individual league level. Apparently the vote is based on the question "“That Steps 3 & 4 continue the current pause in the season with a regular review in the light of changes to the current Tiers and/or Grants becoming available.”"

The wording of the question suggests a decision at an overall level, although the impact of the Tiers differs so much between the North and South.

Quite where any of this leaves the FA trophy is unclear.

[Phil-the-Diamond]

I’m not sure we can go up to 50% capacity as social distancing guidelines still need to be followed - the maximum we can have in the ground under those guidelines is 450.

I honestly can't see how any club could have 50% capacity and still social distance properly.

What is the capacity at Hayden Road?

[Trek]

What is the capacity at Hayden Road?

2955 according to the Club’s COVID - 19 document.

[Phil-the-Diamond]

What is the capacity at Hayden Road?

2955 according to the Club’s COVID - 19 document.

So how many can we have? Surely not nearly 1,500?

[sussexdiamond]

What is the capacity at Hayden Road?

2955 according to the Club’s COVID - 19 document.

So how many can we have? Surely not nearly 1,500?

I shouldn't worry too much about that. We have not even had 1000 at Hayden Road. We are currently limiting to 450 although I believe we could have 600.