Gloucester co-chairman Alex Petheram thinks that Hereford's vote to null and void the season could mean that his club has played their last home game of the season.
Currently topping the National North League, Gloucester are one of the clubs who would like the season to continue. However their next two games are against Kettering and Gateshead neither of which wants to play. Last Saturday their drawn game against Chorley was the only one played in the League.
“I generally feel that the league will get pulled. It’s not looking overly positive,” said Petheram as reported by GlocestershireLive.
“Hereford have said they have voted for null and void so that’s another nail in the coffin
“I don’t think Gateshead will travel. They wouldn’t travel this weekend to Fylde so on the basis of that I can’t see them travelling six and a half hours to play us."
Petheram has been vocal in calling for the season to continue.
“We need to look now at that we can do, whether we push harder to try to fulfil the season somehow or even take some legal advice.
“We don’t want to be in this position, we feel we have been heavily let down by the league and by those around it.
“We are top of the table, doing well and coming out with a point against a good side going for the play-offs makes us even more determined to keep fighting and keep going."
Petheram would like clubs to finish voting as soon as possible.
“The 28-day thing is one of the rules of the league, but it is up to 28 days or when the vote is mathematically impossible,” said Petheram.
“I haven’t done the maths but Hereford might be the one that takes it over the threshold but it needs to be mathematically impossible before the league can call it earlier than 28 days. We must be very nearly there.
“I understand that some clubs are owned by trusts or by foundations or are fan-owned clubs and they are in a different position to a lot of us, however we signed up to complete the season.
“The counter-argument to that is that the clubs say they were led to believe that was funding and support for the season and that hasn’t transpired - but the league’s defence is that they have honoured that agreement as they have got Sport England involved to maintain their half of the deal.
“Everyone is now looking to blame the league and criticise the league - as I have done as well - however the league have put forward a funding provider with Sport England who are prepared to issue grants for clubs which need grants and for those clubs who are in a position that they have to take grants.
“If you run a credit check on some of the clubs who have come out and voted to null and void the season, they have got six-figure bank accounts so for those guys to claim poverty or to claim grant relief is not what the grants are there for.
“They are meant to support the most vulnerable and the most at need and sadly that isn’t all the clubs and they need to look after themselves or stand on their own two feet and do what we are all meant to do as owners and chairmen of football clubs - which is try to put out a competitive team week in week out under the elite sport banner."
Petheram feels the League must now look at its own procedures.
“The headline sponsor of the league is Vanarama and if you were them I
don’t think you would be overly keen on having your brand and business
associated with this debacle."