DCMS funding

[Del]

I was hoping the club would go for option 2. Otherwise all the money raised plus the government grants would all be for nothing.

[jr]

As far as I can see the NL can't be cancelled as that would pose problems with the EFL. The VNL will have to follow the EFL in what they do otherwise this will jeopardise the promotion and relegation that various people have worked so hard to achieve.

[ambermonkey]

Actually there have been no government grants - the money came from the National Lottery, the DCMS only brokered the deal. It's important to note that the loans currently being offered are interest bearing. The govt haven't spent a penny on NL football, and actually want to make a profit out of the situation instead.

Jr is quite right regarding the EFL and promotion/relegation. This could get even messier is the VNL keep playing and NLS/NLN vote end the season. 

[garethl]

I don’t really see that JR. If the National League were to void this season it would just be a one off year where there is no promotion or relegation. Were it to happen it would be completely understandable and shouldn’t impact future seasons. Hopefully we don’t get to that stage and can find a way through.

[Andy K]

Jan 22, 2021 11:18:25 GMT garethl said:

I don’t really see that JR. If the National League were to void this season it would just be a one off year where there is no promotion or relegation. Were it to happen it would be completely understandable and shouldn’t impact future seasons. Hopefully we don’t get to that stage and can find a way through.

Bearing in mind how worried the NL have been previously about enshrining the 2 promotion places especially with the 3G debate and the whole issue of last season and how it ended, I don't think they see that as a "one off year" and possibly see that as giving the EFL an opportunity to take away that 2nd promotion spot.

[Andy K]

North and South divisions suspended for 2 weeks www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/features/vanarama/31876/national-league-north-and-south-season-suspended-for-two-weeks/

[jr]

Jan 22, 2021 11:37:22 GMT Andy K said:

Jan 22, 2021 11:18:25 GMT garethl said:

I don’t really see that JR. If the National League were to void this season it would just be a one off year where there is no promotion or relegation. Were it to happen it would be completely understandable and shouldn’t impact future seasons. Hopefully we don’t get to that stage and can find a way through.

Bearing in mind how worried the NL have been previously about enshrining the 2 promotion places especially with the 3G debate and the whole issue of last season and how it ended, I don't think they see that as a "one off year" and possibly see that as giving the EFL an opportunity to take away that 2nd promotion spot.

Andy is spot on Gareth. You may not see it as a problem but the EFL will. The VNL have to work very closely with the EFL. If the season is curtailed and the EFL continue then there will be no promotion and relegation. It then gives the EFL the option to cease promotion and relegation in the future. Remember, not many people see to have any common sense these days!

[brisfitboy]

Jan 22, 2021 9:12:59 GMT Andy K said:

My personal opinion is that the choice that the club made out of the 3 was the best out of the 3 bad ones. I'm disappointed, but not surprised, that our MP has not responded or been available to speak to the club. The most direct way to talk to a government department to lobby how these options are all bad is via the member of parliament who is paid by their constituents to represent them.

Let us not forget that there are two MP’s in the London Borough of Sutton who are both in the government and they both represent constituents who support Sutton United, so both could take some time out to assist their electorate in what is a serious situation and not just a minor inconvenience to be brushed off.

[garethl]

I see where you’re coming from but disagree that it would be an issue. There’s just no way they’re going to shut the door on 2 promotion spots after a one off covid issue. The reaction that would provoke just wouldn’t make it likely. It would be beyond outrageous to use the pandemic in that way. As I said hopefully it won’t come to this anyway. Things should look a lot brighter in a month or so 🤞

[Andy K]

Jan 22, 2021 16:48:55 GMT brisfitboy said:

Jan 22, 2021 9:12:59 GMT Andy K said:

My personal opinion is that the choice that the club made out of the 3 was the best out of the 3 bad ones. I'm disappointed, but not surprised, that our MP has not responded or been available to speak to the club. The most direct way to talk to a government department to lobby how these options are all bad is via the member of parliament who is paid by their constituents to represent them.

Let us not forget that there are two MP’s in the London Borough of Sutton who are both in the government and they both represent constituents who support Sutton United, so both could take some time out to assist their electorate in what is a serious situation and not just a minor inconvenience to be brushed off.

Bang right. The MP for the football club is Paul Scully - I think we need as a collective to lobby him, especially if he is your own MP. You can write to him directly here www.writetothem.com/write?who=61933&pc=SM1+2EY and as an MP he does have an obligation to respond.

Other MPs such as the MP for Leamington, Matt Western, and Sam Tarry, MP for Ilford North have already both written to Oliver Dowden (Culture Secretary and in charge of the DCMS)

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Our MP has been voted in to represent the constituents of the borough and of the interests of the borough. He needs to be accountable.

[trev]

Jan 22, 2021 9:12:59 GMT Andy K said:

And we've not www.suttonunited.net/a-time-to-decide/

In that BBC article, there isn't one VNL side named. Although we're in the same league system as them, how to approach this from a regional (N/S) league compared to a national one will be different.

My personal opinion is that the choice that the club made out of the 3 was the best out of the 3 bad ones. I'm disappointed, but not surprised, that our MP has not responded or been available to speak to the club. The most direct way to talk to a government department to lobby how these options are all bad is via the member of parliament who is paid by their constituents to represent them.

Agreed. One would reasonably expect the incumbent Minister for London to show a little more initiative when it comes to representing the interests of London-based football clubs. I have corresponded with Paul Scully on other issues in the past and have always found him to be a perfectly affable chap, but to say he is tardy in responding to urgent enquiries is something of an understatement.  

[Andy K]

I've written to Paul Scully

"Dear Paul Scully,


I am writing to you to make you aware of the current financial situation regarding the premier sports club in your constituency, Sutton United F.C.

I'm sure I don't need to make you aware regarding the situation regarding the pandemic in the past and how the DCMS brokered a deal with the National Lottery to provide £10million of emergency funding for the season to begin back in November. At the time it was a figure given to the league and it's 3 divisions as a whole to cover a 3 month period when it was hoped that the situation would improve.

We are now in a situation of national lockdown and we don't expect to return to see games in the foreseeable future. As the club itself runs as a self sustaining, and essentially a non profit business and almost all of its revenue streams (the gate receipts, the social venue and the pitch hire) but still has to pay the playing staff as for many of them it is their job.

The recent DCMS announcement that the new emergency package will now come in the form of a loan will have a huge impact on the club, but also to the league as a whole. Essentially the government is potentially putting an entire level of sport at risk for good.

I am aware that the club itself has attempted to contact you with no success, and I am writing this to you as a constituent and a fan, but I am requesting that you talk with your colleagues at the DCMS to reconsider their loan approach into something that will not saddle the club with a debt that may not be able to be paid off and come up with a solution which not only helps the club be an ongoing concern at this time, but also support many who see the upcoming games as an oasis for their mental health in this dark difficult times. There has been talk about the league suspending and the playing staff across the 3 divisions going into furlough, but as has rightly been calculated, this would actually be a more significant hit to the economy, costing over £13million.

As an institution that has done more to positively raise the profile of your constituency than any other in your time as MP for Sutton and Cheam, and one where many of your constituents have similar concerns to me, I also believe it to be in your interest to take an active role in this issue to preserve the sustainability of the club and support it now when you are in such a position to support it more than it's ever needed the support of its MP. I am aware of other MPs that have already written letters to Oliver Dowden raising their issues on behalf of the clubs they represent, and it would be a positive signal from you if similar action was taken.

I look forward to hearing from you and look forward to the steps you can take to help in this matter."

I've done my bit. Hopefully others will now do the same. Don't except him to take any action unless you do it first, by writing to him.

[davef]

We have heard from Paul Scully that he has presented the case to the relevant people in government.

[Rambo]

For those, like me, who couldn't open Andy K's link

www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/features/vanarama/31876/national-league-north-and-south-season-suspended-for-two-weeks/

[os]

Jan 22, 2021 20:36:54 GMT davef said:

We have heard from Paul Scully that he has presented the case to the relevant people in government.

One overwhelming logistical argument is, that the National League clubs taking a loan is simply unburdening the Government from paying furlough to players and staff. The very minimal argument has to be that any loan should only be the difference between what the Government would have to give should National league football stop and that needed to continue playing.