The National League has confirmed how the government funding
to compensate its member clubs for playing matches behind closed doors will be
distributed.
Culture Secretary Oliver
Dowden has announced that the clubs in the National League, National League
South will receive a £10 million funding package as part of a partnership with
The National Lottery.
Fans had originally been set
to return to watch live sport on October 1, but due to a rise in Covid-19 infections nationally the government made a U-turn on it's original decision, and it
might not be until the end of March 2021 at the earliest when clubs can open
their gates to paying spectators again.
It comes after the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and
Sport assured the National League that emergency financial support would be
forthcoming so that it was able to start the season earlier this month. All 66
clubs are playing football this season as a result.
Dowden
said: "I know from a brilliant club in my area that National League
football clubs are the beating heart of their communities and too precious to
lose. This £10 million fund will provide a bridge to help clubs survive this
immediate crisis whilst we work together on the safe return of fans.
"I’m
very grateful to National Lottery players for getting help to these community
clubs so quickly".
The support package, which
will reach clubs via the FA, will be allocated based on each club's average
attendances. It will see the top seven best supported sides in the National
League, which includes Torquay United and Yeovil Town, receiving £95,000 per
month, while the remaining 16 sides in the division will receive £84,000 per
month. In National Leagues North and South will get £30,000 a month,
while Chester FC, Dulwich Hamlet, Hereford FC, Maidstone United and York
City will be given £36,000 a month based on the same model used in the National
League.
