Dover Athletic take drastic action as Hartlepool United and rivals wait for National League clarity

Dover Athletic have announced they have furloughed all players and staff in a bid to safeguard the club’s long-term future, as the National League crisis deepens.
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The club – who sit second bottom in the National League – have told officials that they will be unable to fulfill further league fixtures ‘until appropriate funding is made available.’

It comes as clubs in the fifth tier await the outcome of a vote to determine whether the 2020-21 campaign will continue amid funding concerns with fans not currently allowed inside stadiums during the Covid-19 pandemic.

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A Dover statement read: “Dover Athletic can confirm that all management, players, and staff have now been furloughed to safeguard the club’s long-term future.

Joe Sbarra of Solihull Moors in action with Hartlepool United's David Ferguson.Joe Sbarra of Solihull Moors in action with Hartlepool United's David Ferguson.
Joe Sbarra of Solihull Moors in action with Hartlepool United's David Ferguson.

“Chairman Jim Parmenter, who has funded the club for the past seven weeks after the initial government grant funding ended in December, said he had been left with no option but to make the decision to prevent the club from becoming insolvent.

“We are operating in unprecedented times. We have to make difficult decisions.

“We wanted to leave the decision that has been made as long as possible before making this final announcement in the hope a support package may appear.

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“Unfortunately no support has been forthcoming, so it is with the deepest regret that the club must now furlough all staff and players and reduce operations to a bare minimum.

“All financial reserves have now been completely exhausted.

“For 15 years, I have run the club without debt and I do not intend to change that now.

“The club will be unable to fulfill further National League fixtures until appropriate funding is made available.”

“As a result of this decision, our three loan players, Harry Ransom (Millwall), Ryan Hanson (Hull City), and Oliver Webber (Crystal Palace) have all returned to their parent clubs.”

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National League clubs have until the end of the month to submit their votes for the 2020-21 National League resolution – and some have already made their feelings known.

All 66 of the National League’s member clubs were handed their resolution voting papers earlier in the week. They have 28 days to respond to the four resolutions set out by the National League.

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