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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2018 8:57:30 GMT
The Football League have now confirmed 3G pitches will not be allowed next season. They hope at the next Football League AGM it will get sufficient support to allow it from The 2019-20 season. The three clubs in The National League have consistently announced they will not pull up their 3G's because of the enormous financial costs of putting it down in the first place, the finance they now generate, and obviously the fact from 2019-20 it is probable to be allowed anyway. The situation has put the entire integrity of this seasons National League at stake, just what are Sutton and Bromley supposed to do, with Maidstone an outside factor as well. These three clubs are in no mans land as regards the rules as they stand.
If promoted they have to pull up the 3G and lay turf to enter The Football League....if they decline to do so, that club will be relegated to National South instead. That in itself is likely to mean a reprieve for the 4th bottom relegated club this season in The National League. Many will argue these clubs jumped the gun on 3G and the situation is entirely their own fault, and I take that point, however to my mind The National League allowed it so they have to take some responsibility as well for creating the mess.
So just what do Sutton and Bromley do now?? Deliberately have a bad run of form to ensure they don't end up in the top seven which damages the integrity of the entire competition for all 24 clubs? Do they do the right thing and announce they will decline to accept a play off spot, thus allowing if necessary teams finishing 8th and 9th the opportunity to replace them? And lets not forget Maidstone could finish 8th or 9th as well, which means 10th would be next in line.
If this were to happen, can you see Eastleigh making at least 9th or 10th? We are a mere 5 points adrift of that at the moment!! Are we supposed to believe that if Sutton and Bromley enter the play offs they will really try and win it? The conclusion has to be they make sure they fail...is that fair? From that perspective, they cannot be allowed to enter the play offs can they? I honestly think the best compromise for all concerned is that the three clubs announce they decline the play off spots if they win those positions, thereby maintaining the integrity of the league for all concerned with no thoughts of deliberately losing and dropping points, and as a result, in this one off season a possibility arises of a team finishing 10th getting into the play offs.
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Post by taylov on Jan 15, 2018 10:12:28 GMT
I have no sympathy for the likes of Bromley, Sutton etc. They knew the rules and chose to go ahead.
I hope the National League takes a hard line and bars them from the play-offs if they finish 7th or above and admits the clubs in 8th, 9th places etc. instead.
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Post by thelake on Jan 15, 2018 12:37:44 GMT
has some news come about in the last few days regarding the 3G?
Has anyone got a link to it?
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Post by westendspitfire on Jan 15, 2018 13:20:33 GMT
Everyone knew the situation at the start of the season, which makes it seem even dafter that the clubs and the league thought that it could be acceptable where 3 clubs could look to lose games to avoid being relegated. I don't see us getting dragged into the situation, but you have to think that the clubs that are affected are not going to be happy and there has to be a possibility that the Football League will look to protect its members if the NL is presenting them with clubs for promotion who do not meet the required criteria.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2018 13:56:13 GMT
has some news come about in the last few days regarding the 3G? Has anyone got a link to it? I read it in either The Daily Mail or Express late last week. The chairman of The League said his members were not supportive of allowing 3G into their structure at this time. He hoped a vote in favour of 3G would be implemented at the next AGM this summer and if passed would be acceptable from the 2019-20 season. That means The National League has a problem to sort out regarding the play off situation if Sutton and Bromley continue their fine form and make the top 7. Whatever they do, its going to be wrong for somebody.
A scenario to ponder......Sutton United wins the play-offs and decline to tear up their 3G pitch, they are then relegated to National South for that refusal. The team finishing 4th bottom of The National League automatically gain a reprieve and stay up. What happens to the spot Sutton surrendered.....the team finishing 4th bottom in The Football League will get a reprieve as well.
Is that fair? Only the champions would go up....likewise if Sutton win the title, and Bromley win the play offs, two teams will get a reprieve in The Football League and no one wins promotion from The National League.
Turkeys voting for Christmas comes to mind...Football League clubs have stitched up the non league good and proper on this issue. And lets remember, they may not vote to accept 3G at the AGM in which case the saga continues indefinitely. Therefore The National League has to ban 3G pitches from their structure until The Football League allows it surely.
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Post by michaelefc on Jan 15, 2018 17:31:55 GMT
The rules were clear from the off; some clubs decided to go for it anyway. Fair enough, but no point blaming anyone else. They will all of course try their best to get as many points as possible, any suggestion they are not trying should land a very heavy fine. If they finish in the top 7, then the clubs outside the top 7 should be allowed to enter the play offs. Obviously that increases our chances of the play offs. I think we should forget about that entirely and just focus on building on this good little run we are on.
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Post by tenacres on Jan 15, 2018 19:32:00 GMT
I think all 3 clubs would take promotion should they win the league or playoffs. Doswell has gone on record saying so.
I certainly think its possible that if any of the 3 win the league or playoffs they may be allowed to play in League 2 next season with a 3G surface, though that is a rather big if & we will probably never know.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2018 7:11:05 GMT
I think all 3 clubs would take promotion should they win the league or playoffs. Doswell has gone on record saying so. I certainly think its possible that if any of the 3 win the league or playoffs they may be allowed to play in League 2 next season with a 3G surface, though that is a rather big if & we will probably never know. Rendel, the clubs have thrown the idea out for NEXT season so it is NOT possible is it??? Where has Doswell gone on record as saying they will tear up their 3G? He hasn't...to say he will take promotion he means going up with their 3G pitch...its not going to happen no matter what he says. The way to resolve this, and ensure every club knows the situation is for The National Board to call a special meeting. They should discuss, vote and propose the following amendment with immediate effect.
The clubs with 3G pitches are requested to inform the board within 10 days of this notice that if promoted they will tear up the 3G to be accepted to play in The Football League. However if their intention is to not remove their 3G they shall be relegated to National South and be refused promotion until such time as either The Football League allows 3G pitches or they revert to turf. At the end of the 10 day notification period the board shall make a further announcement regarding the situation of the play offs places in The National League in 2017-18 season should any of the affected clubs finish in the top seven.
Those clubs jumped the gun on 3G rules at the next level of promotion, and while it was done for the good of their local community and financial benefits to their clubs, they are in effect trying to blackmail football league clubs to vote for something they are not in favour of at this time. You reap what you sow........
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Post by taylov on Jan 16, 2018 9:46:11 GMT
"I think all 3 clubs would take promotion should they win the league or playoffs. Doswell has gone on record saying so."
This is what the Sutton Chairman said a year ago before the game with Leeds United - “If we won promotion, we’d have two choices. We are either relegated two divisions or we rip up the 3G pitch and put grass down again. I’m sure we’d do the latter, but it’s not likely to happen this season."
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Post by bomber on Jan 16, 2018 11:55:52 GMT
"I think all 3 clubs would take promotion should they win the league or playoffs. Doswell has gone on record saying so." This is what the Sutton Chairman said a year ago before the game with Leeds United - “If we won promotion, we’d have two choices. We are either relegated two divisions or we rip up the 3G pitch and put grass down again. I’m sure we’d do the latter, but it’s not likely to happen this season." To my mind playing on a 3G pitch for all of your home games creates a distinct advantage anyway, and for that reason I'd make the buggers rip 'em up now.
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Post by cobbler on Jan 16, 2018 12:16:00 GMT
I can't help thinking the whole situation is a bit farcical when it is completely acceptable to play a World Cup qualifier, or Champions League semi-final on a 3G pitch, but not a potential Sutton Utd v Accrington Stanley match in League 2.
Most non-league clubs that have these pitches use them to ensure their financial viability, and surely that should improve the whole system of non-league football. Not all non-league clubs have the financial stability that SD affords us.
Smacks of protection of the current member clubs by the EFL.
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Post by tenacres on Jan 16, 2018 20:32:32 GMT
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Post by tenacres on Jan 16, 2018 20:36:57 GMT
Plan B presumably being ripping up the 3G, with plan A being to play in league 2 without ripping up the 3G.
Obviously its unlikely Sutton will win the league or playoffs this season.
If they do then we will have to wait and see what happens.
I don't have a particular feeling pro or anti 3G but it does seem to me like it is a case of when not if it is allowed in the football league.
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Post by nobadspitfire on Jan 16, 2018 21:05:11 GMT
Why is it unlikely SU will win the league or Playoffs? I would say they have as good a chance as any other club in the top 10 /half of the division.
I also tend to go with the thought that if a plastic pitch is good enough for Champions League and World Cup games, it's good enough for the NL & Leagues 2 & 1, at least.
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Post by blueandwhite on Jan 16, 2018 21:23:17 GMT
When was the last team that voluntarily turned down promotion to the football league? Has it ever happened?
IIRC the last team to be refused promotion was Stevenage, in about 1996 i think, on the basis of failing ground grading.
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