Hartlepool United manager Dave Challinor highlights significant problems with National League resolution vote

On Monday evening, the National League published its resolution details with a convoluted statement that described the four ‘resolutions’ its 66 member clubs would be required to vote on within the next 28 days.

There are several possible outcomes from the vote: All three National League seasons being voided, all three seasons continuing, the National League continuing and the National League North and South voided and finally the National League being voided and the National League North and South.

Pools are expected to vote for the season to continue as they currently sit second in the fifth tier.

But Challinor feels the situation could become ‘messy’ due to the lack of financial support for clubs.

Discussing the statement, he told The Mail: “You read it initially, then read it again and you probably have to go through it about 15 times before you have a decent idea of what it actually means.

“Everyone will have their own thoughts and opinions on it. We can only really focus on our situation and how we’re going to vote.

“It’s also potentially dangerous with the format. When you look at the first resolution and do the National League and the North and South vote together or split in different ways?

“It’s easy to say the three National League divisions should stick together. The problem you’ve got is that step one and step two are so contrasting in terms of the teams that are in there.

"In our league, 75-per-cent if clubs are full time. When you drop town to the North and South, it’s about 25-per-cent full-time at best.

"The clubs are very different in terms of budgets and infrastructure which is bound to impact the way they decide to vote.

"If resolution one doesn’t pass and we’re all put in the same boat, we could end up with a situation where National League North and South clubs are forced to carry on with the way the vote is weighted.

“It becomes potentially dangerous because I’m quite sure clubs would just refuse to play on because they can’t afford to. What happens then? Are they docked points, are they relegated? It risks becoming messy.”

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