AFC Fylde: It's our moral duty to vote to play on

The vote among the clubs in the three National League competitions was called on Monday evening and the 66 clubs will decide whether to end their season early for a second successive year.

But unlike last season, when the decision to halt play was followed by a lengthy debate on how to resolve the season, it has been made clear that a vote to stop would mean the season being declared null and void, with no promotion or relegation, subject to FA approval.

Although the rules allow 28 days for voting, a quick decision is expected as matches in National League North and South are due to resume this Saturday after a two-week suspension.

Fylde chairman David Haythornthwaite told The Gazette last night: “Some clubs will have to convene a board meeting but I expect most votes will be cast in the next 48-72 hours and we’ll have a result by the start of next week.

“I think it will be a tight-run affair but I hope we will just crawl over the line.”

The crisis which saw Fylde’s league suspended on January 22 and has triggered this vote revolves around emergency government funding to help clubs operate with greatly reduced sources of income and no spectators.

This funding for the first three months of the season came via a £10m grant to the National League. However, the government has announced that further funding to cover the rest of the season will take the form of loans, unless individual clubs can make an exceptional case for grants.

Fylde, who stand third in NL North, believe this offer to be fair and have issued a statement explaining why they will be voting to complete the season.

It reads: “How we act and what we decide will have a massive impact on our future, and how we are viewed both now and moving forward by our footballing peers.

“Having received public funds to cover loss of gate revenue in the first part of the season, we are of the opinion that we have a moral obligation to our fans and community to continue.

“While we are all in acknowledgement that the country remains a fragile place, for many, football provides our only release. We firmly believe it is our duty, as a football club that sits at the heart of its community, to preserve that release.

“In Friday’s meeting, Sport England made it clear that a combination of grants and loans could be obtained. Those clubs who could justify grants would be able to access them, as a grant or potential hybrid type model.

“The terms of the loan are extremely favourable: 20-year term, two per cent interest and a four-year payment holiday. With this on the table, we urge all clubs to make their case to enable them to receive a grant, loan or a combination of the two.

“To throw the towel in at this stage will undoubtedly see our elite status brought into question. Without this status, clubs wouldn’t have received the first £10m grant nor would we be offered the very attractive terms for the remainder of the season.

“We must all fight to retain ‘elite’ status in order for us to be taken seriously as a professional football division.

“All clubs, big and small, have ambitions. If not, then why are we here? We have an ambition to win and to progress. We refuse to lie down because another obstacle has presented itself. It is our belief that all of us have a responsibility to our fans, sponsors and local communities.”

Fylde also addressed the health fears raised by playing on in the pandemic, another reason cited by some clubs to stop the season. Before the suspension, Fylde had seen three fixtures called off because of positive coronavirus tests and they have not played since January 9.

While EFL clubs have twice-weekly Covid tests funded by the PFA, there is no mandatory testing in the National League, though Fylde have introduced lateral-flow tests and urge fellow clubs to follow suit. The statement adds: “Rapid testing programmes are not perfect but provide a very useful tool in detecting infection in asymptomatic individuals.”

Fylde suggest that weekly testing for a typical squad would cost £157.50 at £5.25 per test. The club also says that Sport England have made a verbal commitment to fund these tests in future.

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