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Next Game: Pre-Season

Friday, January 22, 2021

Will This Weekend Be The Last This Season?

Several National North clubs think this weekend could be the last this season unless future funding is in grants not loans.

Bradford Park Avenue's director of football Marin Knight has spelt out his club's position.

"Every club needs money to complete the season whether that comes from a loan, a grant, or your own bank," said Knight as reported by the Telegraph and Argus.

"We didn’t start the season on the basis that we would complete it on loans, we started it on the basis we would complete it on grants.

"Do you want to saddle your club with 10 years' worth of debt for the sake of completing the season?

"With the exemption of one, every club will be saying the owners are not putting the money in. You either gives us a grant or we null and void the season.

"The National League will have to go back to the DCMS and say get us a grant or we are suspending the league.

"I think this weekend against Kidderminster will be our last game. 

"I think on Monday there will be a decision made to curtail the season. I would suggest that is the likely outcome unless the DCMS backtrack."

Bradford PA's manager Mark Bower feels that clubs paying transfer fees hasn't helped.

"It is hard to ask for free money when you see teams in this league splashing cash on transfer fees. We have cut our cloth accordingly.

"Our lads are not here for the money this year; they are here to enjoy it. The younger ones to further their careers and get up that ladder.

"We are hoping for the money because that was the conditions to start the league. But I do not think we have done ourselves any favours in terms of what is going on in the world."