The National League bosses failed to read or perhaps understand their own rules about the play-offs earlier today.
Initially they said that Solihull Moors would get a bye in the play-offs following a ruling by the EFL that Gateshead were ineligible because their lease wasn't long enough.
However later there was a change of mind.
The Alty Files reported the following:
So, we had Solihull Moors (5th) getting the advantage of a bye, whilst Altrincham (4th) were being obliged to play an eliminator game.
This ran totally contrary to the whole principle of the play offs which is that the higher placed teams are given the advantage and that the play-off structure rests on the premise that to play fewer games is advantageous to its participants.
Sunday afternoon: Finally the National League re-read its own rules and had to admit that it had got it wrong. Accordingly Altrincham no longer have to play an eliminator and go straight to the semi-final stage, an away game at Bromley! This was after Altrincham had quite sensibly started to sell tickets for the planned Wednesday clash with FC Halifax Town in the eliminator round.
Now FC Halifax will instead play at Solihull rather than Altrincham.
The second statement by the National League states
"Following the announcement earlier today that Gateshead are ineligible to compete in this season’s National League play-offs, the League wishes to make the following statement.
National League rules state that in the event of a club being removed from the play-offs and not being replaced, the structure of the draw should be adjusted based on final league positions.
Therefore, the League can now confirm an amended play-off schedule as follows:
Wednesday 24 April – 7pm
- Eliminator A – Solihull Moors v FC Halifax Town
Saturday 27 April – 5.30pm
- Semi-Final – Barnet v Solihull Moors/FC Halifax Town
Sunday 28 April – 4pm
- Semi-Final – Bromley v Altrincham
The League hopes this now clarifies its position on the National League play-offs".
Footnote: Not only do Solihull Moors and FC Halifax Town now have different oposition from that which was originally planned, the Moors now have to change their schedule from a planned Tuesday game to a Wednesday match.
TNT now have a gap in their schedules as they have no Tuesday eliminator game to transmit live.