Notts County’s dreams of securing promotion back to the Football League in front of their own supporters at Wembley Stadium would appear to be dead in the water.
Despite being confirmed in next month’s play-off semi-final to face either Yeovil Town or Barnet, it’s likely that should Notts prevail, then the promotion final won’t be held at Wembley, as was originally planned.
Comments from Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden this week raised expectations that a small number of supporters could be allowed into Wembley for the final, but with other neutral venues being considered, that would now seem unlikely.
For Magpies boss Neal Ardley, however, he’s just relieved to have the chance to win promotion back to League Two, no matter where the game is played.
“Yes, of course,” it would be a shame admitted Ardley, if the game was moved from the capital.
“There’s teams that might have got in the play-offs that didn’t have the opportunity, there’s team that might have stayed up and not been relegated that didn’t have the opportunity, so we’re not going to moan about where a final is played or where it’s not.
“We’re very thankful that patience was used and we’ve been given this opportunity and we’ll take whatever comes in order to achieve our end of season.”
