National League Play-off Farce

[NumberAde]

Gateshead have had a really good season - they are in the FA Trophy Final against Solihull on May 11th and finished 6th in the National League.

That meant a play-off, away to Altrincham, tonight. But Gateshead Council refused to give Gateshead a 10-year tenure on their ground - Gateshead International Stadium - a ground they have played at for 52 years!

Because of this, and because the EFL have a rule that says any new members must have at least a 10-year tenure on their stadium, Gateshead were kicked out of the play-offs on Sunday. This means Altrincham are through to the Semi-Final of the play-offs.

Gateshead have raised a Notice of Arbitration. Their ground holds 11,800, so about the same as Rotherham, and more than Bournemouth and Luton. Very likely that they will find themselves struggling from next season as why would players want to play for a club that can not get any higher.

Seems crazy that Gateshead council have allowed this to happen, but I don't know all the facts. Also seems crazy that they can't bring in Aldershot as a replacement.

Just like the EPL, it may be that the National League Season will take a bit longer to complete. It looks completely unfair though, especially when Coventry didn't have a ground a few years back, and Gateshead have been playing at theirs for 50 years.

 

[NumberAde]

Sorry, just to add to the farce - Originally Gateshead were playing Solihull. But, because Altrincham are placed higher, it is Altrincham who got the bye. That means that Halifax, who were supposed to be going to Altrincham, now play Solihull away instead. All two/three days before the matches were due to kick off.

Locals are saying that Gateshead haven't been paying rent, and the council is spending £1m a year on the stadium.

 

[Jimmytaff]

Tricky one for the council. Promotion would bring more money in for the town and increase chances of payment. That said why should they subsidise a football club when their budget is likely under massive pressure.

 

[Nugent]

Gateshead have had a really good season - they are in the FA Trophy Final against Solihull on May 11th and finished 6th in the National League.

That meant a play-off, away to Altrincham, tonight. But Gateshead Council refused to give Gateshead a 10-year tenure on their ground - Gateshead International Stadium - a ground they have played at for 52 years!

Because of this, and because the EFL have a rule that says any new members must have at least a 10-year tenure on their stadium, Gateshead were kicked out of the play-offs on Sunday. This means Altrincham are through to the Semi-Final of the play-offs.

Gateshead have raised a Notice of Arbitration. Their ground holds 11,800, so about the same as Rotherham, and more than Bournemouth and Luton. Very likely that they will find themselves struggling from next season as why would players want to play for a club that can not get any higher.

Seems crazy that Gateshead council have allowed this to happen, but I don't know all the facts. Also seems crazy that they can't bring in Aldershot as a replacement.

Just like the EPL, it may be that the National League Season will take a bit longer to complete. It looks completely unfair though, especially when Coventry didn't have a ground a few years back, and Gateshead have been playing at theirs for 50 years.

dont agree with Aldershot standing in, they didnt qualify for playoffs and if you were an altrincham fan and lost to em you`d be tamping

 

[NumberAde]

dont agree with Aldershot standing in, they didnt qualify for playoffs and if you were an altrincham fan and lost to em you`d be tamping

I suppose so - just seems a massive cock-up really and there's probably no real solution. Using your argument (which I don't disagree with), you could say that Gateshead have qualified for the play-offs and should carry on. If they win it, no-one goes up, and while the play-offs are happening they can try appealing. In some ways, that is a better solution for me because, if Gateshead did win it, they would have a couple of months to try to resolve the issue or no-one goes up.

If they won the league, instead of Chesterfield, then the chances are that there would be one fewer team dropping from League 2 rather than giving the Third placed team promotion.

 

[Nugent]

I suppose so - just seems a massive cock-up really and there's probably no real solution. Using your argument (which I don't disagree with), you could say that Gateshead have qualified for the play-offs and should carry on. If they win it, no-one goes up, and while the play-offs are happening they can try appealing. In some ways, that is a better solution for me because, if Gateshead did win it, they would have a couple of months to try to resolve the issue or no-one goes up.

If they won the league, instead of Chesterfield, then the chances are that there would be one fewer team dropping from League 2 rather than giving the Third placed team promotion.

where can gateshead play their home leg tho

 

[NumberAde]

Tricky one for the council. Promotion would bring more money in for the town and increase chances of payment. That said why should they subsidise a football club when their budget is likely under massive pressure.

The stadium seemed to be used a lot in the late 20th Century for athletics tournaments. I'm guessing it is not used as much for those things now, as it is out-dated and there are newer venues that are a bit closer to London. If it is costing the Council £1m a year to keep it maintained, then they should have been coming up with alternatives - or telling Gateshead FC that they need to find an alternative.

Seems pretty crap all around that this is only being decided after 46 matches have been played.

 

[NumberAde]

where can gateshead play their home leg tho

It's not two-legged, and Gateshead have a stadium they can play in. It's just they don't have the 10 year lease the EFL are insisting on (but only for new clubs). The stadium is safe, it has a near 12,000 capacity, and has been used for lots of reasons from football, to international athletics, to concerts.

 

[Jimmytaff]

The stadium seemed to be used a lot in the late 20th Century for athletics tournaments. I'm guessing it is not used as much for those things now, as it is out-dated and there are newer venues that are a bit closer to London. If it is costing the Council £1m a year to keep it maintained, then they should have been coming up with alternatives - or telling Gateshead FC that they need to find an alternative.

Seems pretty crap all around that this is only being decided after 46 matches have been played.

It's far from ideal but the Council can't allow themselves to be conned

 

[NumberAde]

It's far from ideal but the Council can't allow themselves to be conned

Yeah, the other argument would be - what would happen if Gateshead did get the 10 year lease, and did get to the EFL. I can't imagine they are well supported and we've already seen clubs like Hartlepool and Darlington struggle in the shadows of Middlesbrough, Sunderland and Newcastle.

Getting to the EFL is expensive. It has killed a few clubs like Maidstone, crippled others like Barnet and Kidderminster, and seen others like Salford, and Harrogate struggle to get anywhere near 2000 in mid-week matches.

But, on a weekend where a last minute winner for a Championship club over the biggest club in the world was ruled out because of a couple of centimeters, it would be nice to see football being all about football again.