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Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
Sport
Leigh Curtis

National League reveal government aid talks as Notts County await confirmation

The National League is planning to start the new season next month after revealing they are hoping to seal a financial aid package with the government.

Speculation had been growing that the campaign would be put on hold after some clubs stated they did not want it to begin without fans being allowed to attend  because of the coronavirus pandemic.

But Notts County were one of a number of teams who had made it clear they wanted it to still go ahead as normal with boss Neal Ardley saying a delay would have been ludicrous as there is no guarantee fans will be back inside stadiums inside the next six months.

The National League has now released a statement in which it confirmed it has been in dialogue with the government and the Football Association to seek a package that help clubs survive the crisis.

It read: "In recognition of the financial uncertainty facing its member clubs, The National League is actively engaged with Government, with the assistance of The Football Association, to secure a critical financial support package, and it is hoped this can be announced very soon.

"It is imperative the revenue shortfall caused by the pause to the safe return of spectators is responsibly addressed so each club can operate sustainably over the course of the forthcoming season."

The news comes on the same day a host of National League North clubs wrote to chief executive Michael Tattersall to say that 81 per cent of clubs did not want to begin the campaign.

That is because the majority of player contracts do not come into force until the first competitive game and they would be committed to paying players without gate receipts providing crucial income.

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