Torquay United's promotion hopes could be derailed over the latest funding crisis to grip the National League.
Earlier in the season, clubs in the National League and National Leagues North and South received grants from the National Lottery - United were one of several NL clubs to receive £95,000 per month, the highest payment awarded under the scheme. However, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) are proposing that the next tranche of payments will be in the form of loans, instead of grants, which many clubs have said that they cannot afford to take on.
All 67 NL clubs have now been given three options by the League Board, and a decision on the way forward is expected within a few days.
Now the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is offering a second round of money, but in loans, which clubs say they cannot afford to take on, not grants.
The NL Board’s three options are:
1 - Clubs to accept loans direct, to be paid back over 10 years at 2% interest;
2 - The League to take on the loan and then pass money on to clubs who would pay it back in future or through reduced central share payments;
3 - Suspend the season.
A number of clubs from National League South - namely Concord Rangers, Havant & Waterlooville - have stated that they are not prepared to play this coming Saturday, and at least 15 other clubs from Step (NLN/NLS) have said they would prefer to suspend the season. A number of other teams who are struggling to fulfill their fixtures because of Covid-19 enforced postponements might also see a suspension of the campaign as a favourable option.
However, if the National League itself is suspended it would threaten the 'elite' status awarded to the National League System in the first lockdown that allowed the end of season play-offs to take place. Also, if the league was suspended with only around a third of fixtures completed by most teams how would it effect the promotion and relegation issues between League Two and the National League?
Also, with the National League only operating with 23 teams in the 2020-21 campaign - one team short of its normal compliment of 24 - following the demise of Bury and Macclesfield Town in recent years, the league would be forced to continue with an odd number for another season.
The National League have already met with representatives from member clubs and due to meet again to discuss the proposals going forward.
It is also worth not forgetting that the 2020-21 season was able to start in the wake of the promise of the grants, after it was delayed until October as that was the time that the original ban on spectators attending matches was due to be lifted - until the government decided on a U-turn. Many clubs have stated that they would not have agreed to start the season if the funding had been in the form of loans rather than grants.
