Read below a statement from the National League, sent to member clubs on Friday 16 April 2021. 

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Mark Ives Appointed as Permanent General Manager

Mark Ives has been appointed as the permanent General Manager of The National League.

The former Head of Judicial Services at The FA for almost two decades had initially been appointed on a three-month interim basis from January.

On the appointment, chairman Brian Barwick said: “Following the departure of long-serving CEO Michael Tattersall in December, it was important for The National League Board to use the early part of 2021 to assess the management structure of the organisation.

“Mark will be a great asset for The National League and our Member Clubs. He is very experienced in football matters, is well trusted and has a wide network of contacts across the game.

“The last three months have given him an indication of what is needed to move the organisation forward and has already made wider communication one of his objectives.

“We wish Mark well in the role”.

Mark Ives said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at The National League to date and am delighted to have been appointed on a permanent basis.

“The interim period gave me further understanding of the organisation and its members. Communication I have had with Member Clubs has been both transparent and positive.

“My priorities will continue to be helping Member Clubs manage the impact of the pandemic and to contribute towards a progressive future for The National League”.

The football may have come to a grinding halt for Paul Holleran and his team but much is still happening in and around the club.  For those that may have missed it, the FA Alliance committee, a couple of weeks ago, ‘Rubber stamped’ the decision of the National League that both the National League North and South Leagues be ‘null and void’ for Season 2020/2021 following on from a narrow vote in favour of such action.

By the time we kick off the 2021/2022 season on 14^th August it will have been 18 months since Brakes fans have attended a competitive fixture to cheer the lads on.  What rules will be in place then is a matter of conjecture as is the numbers who will be allowed to attend.  Rest assured we will have all the necessary health protocols in place to ensure that it is a safe environment upon your return.

Many of you will have seen pictures of the impressive new seated stand (198 seats) on the ‘Sheepside’ side of the ground with a further 56 seats installed in the covered  terraced stand on the Car Park side thus taking the total number of seats to 508.  We have additionally filled in the gap between the seated stand and covered terraced stand on that side thus making the stand a continuous one.   We have had to re-position the dugouts on the ‘Sheepside’ to ensure that we meet ground grading requirements for ‘line of sight’ viewing for spectators.  We have ongoing work to re-install fencing on the ‘Sheepside’ and that work will be done in the coming months.

As we all know finances have been challenging this past year, but we are delighted to advise you that individuals have come forward to finance the circa £50k cost in return for shares in the club.  This was hugely appreciated as the club would have been relegated had we not met the 31 March, 2021 deadline for the installation of the additional 250 seats.

Many of you will not have been aware that out ‘training pitch’ and it’s totally inadequate drainage has been a growing problem for a number of years, frequently forcing the ‘First Team’ to train on the main pitch causing the maintenance of that to be an increasing headache for our excellent groundsman Idris Elms.

Additionally, there had been a significant increase in cancellations in recent years of use of the training pitch for team and community events due to water logging.  We had planned to install a drainage system last summer, however, the impact upon finances due to Covid 19 led to a postponement of that work.  We have made the decision that this project is critical for delivery of our community activities and essential to first team needs and the work is programmed to take place later this month.   Again, this is a cost that we could be done without but are delighted to say that one of our long term supporters has come forward with a cheque for £3,000 towards the overall cost of £10,000.  We are very loathe asking fans for your support in these challenging times especially following on from your excellent support of the club at the tail end of last season.   For those that feel able to, contributions can be made via the donation link below:

Mentioning the ‘Boost Your Club’ scheme, all those that are due rewards from their contribution to the scheme will now receive them in the new 21/22 Season.  We thank you for your patience and hopefully the waiting will make it all the more worthwhile.

As the vast majority of you will not be aware the main ‘car park’ area has developed more craters on it, than can be found on the moon.  Remedial work is ongoing and all work completed on that before you return for the pre-season friendlies.  The likelihood is that those will commence on or about Saturday 10^th July and we should be able to announce that programme in the next 2-3 weeks.

We are hoping to be able to advise Manager Paul Holleran in early May as to what his budget will be for the season ahead.  Whilst we have suffered reductions in some of our sponsorships this past 12 months we are delighted to say that all our sponsors have remained with us in these difficult times and we are eternally grateful for their continued support.  Indeed, Midcounties Co-operative has increased their sponsorship of the club taking over the naming rights for the stadium in addition to their community support, with the ground now being known as the ‘Your Co-op Community Stadium’.

One other bit of news is that you will see the team in a new ‘bespoke’ gold and black home strip next season  along with a ‘bespoke’ away strip in the former colours of the club, royal blue with gold trim.  More details on that exciting news to come in the next month.

Here’s hoping that the slow return to normality continues unabated in the coming months and we can welcome you all back to Harbury Lane in the summer.  In the meantime, keep safe.

Jim Scott

Chairman
On behalf of the Board of Directors.

Read below a statement from the National League sent to member clubs on 6 April 2021.

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Chairman Brian Barwick to Stand Down at End of the Season

The National League chairman Brian Barwick has notified the Board he will be stepping down from his position at the end of the 2020/21 season.

Barwick, 66, has enjoyed a long and distinguished career, spanning over 40 years, with senior roles in both major sports broadcasting organisations and high-profile sports governing bodies.

In December, the former Football Association chief executive was awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours List for services to sport and broadcasting.

The Chairman stated, “After careful consideration I formally told the National League Board in February that I intended to step down at the end of the 2020/21 season.

“I think it is the right time to relinquish the role - and give somebody else the great privilege of leading the organisation.

“Since 2015, I believe the competition has continued to grow in stature and profile, sent strong clubs up into the EFL and built up a formidable and loyal set of commercial and broadcast partnerships.

“Our 66 clubs remain the life-blood of our competition and a vital part of their local communities - and that’s what makes our League so special.

“I also acknowledge just how tough it has been for many of our clubs over the past twelve months facing the unprecedented challenges brought on by the Covid pandemic.

“In closing, I would like to thank my National League Board colleagues, the League’s executive, our commercial partners, the wider football family and, most importantly, our member clubs for their warm welcomes and support over the past six years.

“I will continue to commit myself to the well-being of the National League until the end of the season.

“And, of course, I wish my successor as Chair and everybody connected with the National League my very best wishes for a brilliant future.”

National League vice-chairman Jack Pearce said: “Brian’s appointment signified a change of direction by The National League in 2015 for the benefit of the competition.

“Whilst it would be easy to reflect on what has been a very challenging year for football, not only The National League, the progression of the competition over this six-year period has been greater than we could have expected.

“The Chairman has been influential in our long-term commercial partnerships with Vanarama and BT Sport, with the three-year extensions on enhanced terms this season providing security for member clubs. We have also seen an increased level of professionalism, both on and off the pitch at clubs, since Brian’s appointment.

“Brian’s remarkable work ethic and trust in others have made him an invaluable colleague and a person I consider to be a wonderful friend.”

General Manager Mark Ives also added: “Brian has worked tirelessly for the benefit of the League and his vast experience across the game and the media has been a tremendous benefit to the League and its member clubs.

“I have had the privilege now of working with Brian on two separate occasions during my career, and his knowledge and determination has been exceptional. We are all grateful for his support over the years.”

 Leamington Football Club and The Midcounties Co-operative have agreed a new five year sponsorship deal which will see the society support the club with its expanding community work.

The Midcounties Co-operative’s sponsorship will help Leamington FC’s programme of health and wellbeing initiatives, which is designed to motivate, inspire and facilitate local people through sport.

The Leamington FC Community Scheme delivers sports participation, education, health awareness and social inclusion initiatives that aim to both increase awareness of health and wellbeing, and extend opportunities to participate in football and physical activity to people of all ages, regardless of fitness level or ability.

The sponsorship will also see the club’s homenamed as the ‘Your Co-op Community Stadium’.

Jim Scott, Leamington FC Chairman, said: “Leamington FC wants to engage with the local community through the power of football and the club brand to provide physical, personal and social development opportunities for people of all ages.

“We are very excited that The Midcounties Co-operative has chosen to extend and develop its existing relationship with us, and we look forward to working together to improve the health and wellbeing of the local community. Their values are very much in alignment with those of our club and we see them as a perfect fit.”

Phil Ponsonby, chief executive of The Midcounties Co-operative, said: “Supporting our communities continues to be at the core of what we do, and collaborating with other partners in the community is a very important part of this.

“Leamington FC’s Community Scheme is an example of an excellent initiative that is really trying to drive change in an accessible way and we’re very much excited to be a part of this for the next five years.”

Read below a statement from the National League, sent to all member clubs on Friday, March 26 2021. 

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An Independent Panel, commissioned by The National League, has met to hear the cases of 18 Member Clubs charged with alleged breaches of League Rules.

16 Member Clubs were charged with a breach of League Rule 8.39, 1 Member Club was charged with a breach of League Rule 4.2 and 1 Member Club was charged with a breach of both League Rule 4.2 and 8.39.

Rule 8.39 relates to any Club without just cause failing to fulfil an engagement to play a Competition match on an appointed date. Rule 4.2 provides The National League Board with the ability to issue an instruction, by way of Board Directive, in the best interests of any matter outside of the Rules. On this occasion, Rule 4.2 has been utilised to ensure The National League’s Covid-19 protocols are followed correctly by each Member Club.

The findings of the hearings, divided into three categories, can be found below:

Dover Athletic

An Independent Panel has ruled that Dover Athletic are deemed guilty of four breaches of Rule 8.39 for failing to meet fixture obligations between February 16th and February 27th.

The Club will play no further part in the 2020/21 Playing Season, with the Club’s existing National League (Step One) results expunged. A 12-point deduction for the 2021/22 Playing Season and fine of £40,000 have additionally been issued.

The Panel had regard to financial information provided by Dover Athletic and fully respected the responsibility of the Club’s Directors under Company Law.

However, the Panel also had to consider the integrity of the Competition and the actions of Dover Athletic in relation to the other 22 Clubs that continue to incur much costs as they fulfill their fixtures. Dover Athletic had avoided costs by not completing their Season alongside the other 22 Clubs. In addition, The National League basic award meant they were significantly benefiting from not completing the Season compared to the 22 Clubs that continued.

The Panel concluded that three points per breach should be deducted from the Club’s record in Playing Season 2021/22. In view of the current financial situation and in order to reflect the approach taken in other cases of breaches of Rule 8.39, the Independent Panel reduced the initial fine by 20% to £40,000.

Non-Fulfilment of Fixtures at Step Two

An Independent Panel has ruled that 16 Member Clubs participating in National League North and South (Step Two) are guilty of breaching Rule 8.39 for failing to meet fixture obligations.

Fines ranging from £1,400 to £8,000 in addition to a suspended points deduction for the 2021/22 Playing Season has been issued to each Member Club found guilty.

Given the extremely unusual circumstances that have affected football at all levels and the financial pressures the absence of spectators has brought to bear on clubs, the Panel expressed its sympathy with the Clubs’ predicament. However, the Panel believes it must also take regard of the fact that the majority of Clubs continued to fulfil fixtures and incur much costs until the League ended on February 19th.

Per breach, each Club received a £2,000 fine and suspended two-point deduction for the 2021/22 Playing Season. A 30% deduction was made to the fine for those accepting the charge ahead of the hearing.

Covid-19 Related Breaches

King’s Lynn Town and Southport have been found guilty by an Independent Panel of a breach of The National League’s Covid-19 protocols.

Season 2020/21 had started under restrictions imposed to help control the spread of Covid-19 virus. In order to ensure the Season could continue safely, The National League had developed a number of protocols with Club Process Flow Charts which were to be followed by Clubs.

The Panel imposed a 12-month suspended fine of £2,000 on King’s Lynn Town for an unintentional error, considered to be in the best efforts to ensure a fixture was played. The Club were warned for their future conduct in relation to Covid-19 protocols, with the suspended fine only to be issued if the Club is found guilty of a further breach of Covid-19 protocols.

The Panel issued a £2,000 fine to Southport for, based on the evidence received, misinformation of the status of a player’s Covid-19 test to avoid playing a fixture on dates set by the League. The Club were also warned their future conduct in relation to Covid-19 protocols.

*There is a right of appeal to the Football Association.

Chairman Jim Scott featured on ITV Central news last night to discuss the impact of the last twelve months on the club. Scott started by thanking fans for raising close to £35,000 which has helped the club through the 2020/21 season and allow for a new stand to be built on the Sheepside side of the ground which has recently been completed. Scott mentioned his aspirations for getting fans back in the ground next season with the last time fans were in the Community Stadium being for a 0-0 draw with King’s Lynn Town on 3 March 2020.

A vote from National League member clubs ended the National League North 2020/21 season, declaring it null and void, and since then Leamington players and management have taken reductions in wages to help the club through to season 2021/22. Scott is hopeful of the side continuing the great form found in 2020/21 into next season with the side only losing three league matches and unbeaten at home since 6 October, with some notable results such as wins over York, Chorley and a remarkable comeback from 3-0 down at half time against Alfreton Town to win 4-3.

With the recent news of an elite football pathway partnership with Solihull Academy FC, Scott was keen to bring attention to the Community side. There are about 38 teams below the first team - incorporating post-16 education schemes and a development academy - and this number is growing still. Leamington FC coaches are going into schools and academies with the community reach from the club also growing.

The last twelve months have been challenging for the football club, like clubs up and down the country, but with a season start date for the 2021/22 season announced - 14 August - the atmosphere at Leamington is very much hopeful to see what the next twelve months and beyond have in store for the club.

Filming with Jim Scott the Chairman of @LeamingtonFC at the the Community Stadium. He says "We are very much more than a football club" and the community have played a big role in helping the club through the pandemic. @BrakesLive @ITVCentral @carlsarg pic.twitter.com/G0ZBuJL8US

— Pat Fenelon 🎥 (@PatFenelonITV) March 19, 2021