24/25 League 2

That’s why I asked….investment!

 

It’s bent At least it was when I went to City games at Chesterfield in the 70’s

 

Apologies, my mistake. I saw the statement about Gateshead was from the EFL and assumed they were involved.

 

The were involved indirectly in this as it was ultimately their decision to refuse Gateshead's application for EFL membership, after that it is up to the National League what happens next in terms of the play offs including who gets a bye once the inevitable decision is taken for Gateshead to be barred from entering the play offs.

 

Surely the right decision, if excluding Gateshead is to replace them with the team in 8th ?

 

That's unfortunate for Gateshead.

If they've played there for 40 years, I don't see the need for a stink - but then, I don't understand why they haven't been able to secure a 10 year lease either?

 

Maybe because the landlord has tried to be greedy and cash in on their potential league status, and hiked up the rent? Obviously there is no way any prudent person would commit to 10 years at a much higher rent, when they have a very slim chance of gaining league status, so without taking that massive gamble then their hands were probably tied. It's a shame and I feel sorry for them

 

It's the council dragging it out it seems. Their ground is owned by Gateshead council and once it seemed like there might be an issue back in 2023 IF they made it to the play offs, the football club reached out to the council and they had a March 1st deadline it seemed to get everything extended. Council just dragged it out and out and eventually they have signed it, but they signed it far too late, sometime in April apparently. So if they had a good season next season, they could still be in the POs without any bother.

Seems like the club thought as long as it's signed before the end of the season they might get a pardon but the EFL have put their foot down and said rules are rules. Naff scenario that paints all parties involved in a bad light. Very harsh on Gateshead because not only does it mean they don't have a chance to be promoted, their better players will probably look for a move now to L2 or other NL clubs, and they'll be squad building all over again.

 

There's some strange rules in and amongst these football administrators, and some even strange ways of panning them out. There is no way that a bye should be given to any team at this point of the season. It's like giving a bye in the FA Cup Semi final.

 

Not harsh at all. Gateshead will have been set the the work they had to do by a specific date to meet the ground grading criteria. As will every other club at their level who thought they had a chance of finishing in a position where promotion could be a possibility. A lot of clubs will have done the work to meet the criteria. Others will have realized it needs longer term work ( e.g a building project) to get there and put in plans to get them there in a couple of years time. ( Quite probably Gateshead have known that they needed to sort out the lease for a few years now) .

This is a process that goes on throughout the pyramid. This year the will be other clubs in the pyramid who havent met the ground grading criteria and finished in a promotion position and have been denied promotion. And there lies the problem of saying to Gateshead we know you havent met the criteria on time but we will let this go. Once you start make exceptions you destroy the trust that the non-league clubs that there is laevel playing field in terms of ground standards for all non league clubs.

 

Thanks Mickeyc (Altrincham chairman or manager) cough

 

even Solihull

 

Our supposed budget changes more than our league position, not quite the top 3 that some would have us believe according to this.

 

Solihull Moors currently 3-0 up against Barnet with 30 minutes left so looks like there will be a brand new team in the EFL.

Next seasons League 2 is:
Accrington Stanley
AFC Wimbledon
Barrow
Bradford City
Carlisle United
Chesterfield
Cheltenham Town
Colchester United
Fleetwood Town
Gillingham
Grimsby Town
Harrogate Town
Morecambe
Newport County
Notts County
Port Vale
Salford City
Swindon Town
Tranmere Rovers
Walsall
3 of MK, Doncaster, Crawley, Crewe
1 of Solihull Moors, Altrincham and Bromley

It looks like a more open league on paper with no stand out teams unlike this season.

 

Solihull 4-0 up. Ewww.

 

That league is making me throb

 

There's zero reason not to be aiming for top spot.

No 'competitive budget'. No 'giving it a go'.

It has to be top spot next year and the work starts now. Over to you Messrs Alexander and Sharpe.

 

Yet can't spare an hour for an interview with Radio Leeds
Dream on !!!!