Friday Freebie: Administration and media faux pas is not a good look

A bad week for the National League

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In the past seven days the National League have covered themselves in less glory than they could ever have imagined.

After the season played out last Saturday they then announced the following day Gateshead were to be expelled from the play off’s after the EFL rejected their standing over the lease with the council over the International Stadium.

For those of you who haven’t followed that story, the Heed were given a ten year lease by the council but with a break clause inserted for a new operator to agree new terms once in place, that deal not accepted by the EFL and therefore came their expulsion.

It appears the National League sat on this information for at least two months, time in which nothing was forthcoming because they apparently were trying to ‘sort out the situation’.

Between the club, council and the league, there must have been notice since at least the beginning of the season that there was an issue that needed resolving should the North East club finish inside the top seven.

Why weren’t the details made public sooner? Why didn’t the league insist Gateshead seek a groundshare agreement that would cover them and also allow their participation?

Questions we don’t seem to have answers for, the club in a quandary because currently they will not be allowed promotion next season either unless there is a lease agreement in place. Why as a player would you sign for the club knowing you’d not be able to play any higher without leaving for pastures new?

The National League then proceeded to make a right pig’s ear of the play off schedule by sending Solihull Moors straight to Barnet via a bye, before realising their error and rescinding that statement and correctly giving 4^th placed Altrincham the bye and a visit to Bromley on Sunday whilst Solihull hosted FC Halifax for the right to head to Barnet on Saturday?

Confused? I wouldn’t be surprised! Not only did they not get that bit right, but it also appeared from Saturday’s post-match interview’s that Aldershot Town were on standby ready to step in, only for the league to confirm on Sunday that their rules didn’t allow anyone else to take the vacant spot, so why were the Shots under the impression they could be in?

The whole saga makes non-league’s top division appear extremely unprofessional, at a time where the games needs 3 up, 3 down from League Two into the National League. Not only did they not know their own rules, they certainly didn’t act in the best interests of a member club, something that brings me onto the next point, and the topic of last week’s Freebie.

Since the Premier League cajoling the FA into restricting the FA Cup in terms of replays, the National League announced earlier this week that they are in bed with the Premier League and back the announcement.

A very dangerous game to play when we know the ‘sneaky 6’ don’t give a damn about the other 14 in their division, let alone 24 National League clubs!

Only one club has come out in support of the same view, although that appeared very much an individual opinion rather than a club stance. Other members of the National League are very much up in arms over the decision, the league themselves clearly haven’t sought or taken note of their member’s views, more dangerous territory to be walking upon.

Not only that, it appears to be the complete opposite stance from the EFL themselves and given the National League feed into the Football League, they’re really not doing very well for themselves! Do they really think all that £33 million is going to benefit their clubs only? But then we only have to go back to ‘Gate Money’ and realised distribution isn’t even.

All in all, a very misguided week from Mark Ives the Chief Exec and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a vote of no confidence at the summer AGM to be coming his way.

The Premier League stinks of clubs being railroaded by others, the National League board appear to be of the same persuasion, more own goals in the last seven days than most clubs score in a season.

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