'A disgrace that risks being a full blown scandal' – Hartlepool United reporter Dominic Scurr discusses the controversy surrounding financial support for National League clubs

All 66 National League clubs have now received their allocation of the £10 million National Lottery support grant for the first three months of the season.

Now reports are emerging that the £11 million Government package for the remainder of the season will be made up of loans instead with no alternative in place.

Consequently, clubs are calling for the season to be cancelled unless effective support packages and grants are secured while fans are unable to attend matches.

National League clubs are set to meet over Zoom and have the news confirmed to them on Wednesday morning.

And our Hartlepool United writer Dominic Scurr has given his thoughts on another difficult situation for National League clubs.

He commented: “Clubs effectively aren’t getting any real support now, it’s just a loan. The nature of the loan is slightly unclear but loans have to be paid back in some way shape or form so that risks putting clubs already in financially perilous positions just deeper down that road.

“It’s a kick in the teeth for National League clubs who started the season on the basis that without fans in grounds, they’d be given that support.

"Who knows what the situation will be really, it may come to a vote, hopefully not but clubs will rightly act with self-interest.

"Hartlepool are sitting second in the table, they’ve invested in the squad and been supported by the National Lottery grant, they’re not going to want the season to end.

"On the other side, clubs struggling financially or on the pitch may want the season voided and their concerns alleviated.

"A loan isn’t really going to help things at all and the fact that no contingency plan appears to be in place is a disgrace that risks being a full blown scandal given the time, effort and money clubs have put in to get the season started in the first place.

“The Government and the National League have made their bed by getting the season started and making assurances to clubs – now they should lie in it and give clubs the proper support that they need in order to complete the season safely and as planned.”

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