BoyWonder2
2024, the year of the Shrimpers ⭐🦐
So, this was posted yesterday (12th July) by BBC Essex. This may or may not have been seen by everyone in the other thread, but so much has gone on in there it would have been easy to miss, so I thought it deserved its own thread.
It appears the National League have a meeting today, and I can imagine we are top of the agenda.
I know the Shrimpers Trust have held talks with the National League, and they implied that a points deduction would be unlikely, but they have to protect the integrity of the competition.
Now, we are back in court again on the 23rd August, assuming we are still in the same boat we are this morning. I believe we’ll have the hearing regardless, even if we are taken over, and this becomes a formality.
However, if things remain as they currently are, it becomes another huge day in our history, but it could be irrelevant come today.
So what do the National League do with us? It’s been suggested if we are removed, we are without football for the 2023/2024 season. Firstly, is that correct, or a rumour that has become fact?
Between the season starting, and the 23rd August, we would have played four league matches (Oldham, Daggers, Dorking & Hartlepool). Let’s assume we are given a stay of execution by the league, and let’s say for arguments sake, that it matches the courts date of 23rd August (unlikely but go with me). Now, it’s not inconceivable that we could lose all four of those given the state we find ourselves in. Now, come the 23rd August the courts finally have enough and bin us off, the National League then do the same. I’d assume those results would be void.
Now, this is where the integrity of the competition comes into play. Oldham & Hartlepool have long trips down to us, and all the expenses that entails with travel, accommodation, food etc. the other 21 clubs can use that part of the budget on the playing side to give them an additional advantage that Oldham & Hartlepool won’t be able to. Additionally, Daggers & Dorking would have the gate receipts from our large away following. We’d take over 1,000 to Daggers, and probably around 5-7/800 to Dorking. That is a bit chunk of change for those clubs.
If it went to a vote, how would the clubs vote on us? Without over selling ourselves, we take fantastic crowds with us. We’d be one of the best supported clubs in the division. Last season we took more to every club than they took to us. We’d take over 1,000 to Daggers & Barnet, possibly Ebbsfleet too, maybe a few others. In a league where the away following isn’t the best, the home matches against us bring in much needed funds to those clubs. Additionally, Chesterfield & Oldham as an example may see us as a promotion rival (definitely not at the moment) and might want us gone for that reason, who knows.
The League have to protect the integrity of the competition. Would giving us a point’s deduction do that? We are already playing with two arms behind our backs. Would they cut a leg off as well?
I think it’s between two choices. 1) Bin us off. This would be a last result. With the league losing two big sides in Wrexham and Notts County, would they want to lose another on us but by expulsion. I think we add an awful lot to this league. If they do this, it will be through gritted teeth.
2) A short extension, before the season starts to meet criteria, and show that we can last a season under RM or ideally under shiny new owners.
I’m leaning towards number 2, a deadline of the end of the month.
Will we find out the outcome of the meeting today? Will they do a statement later? Only time will tell..