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16/6/2021 9:15 AM  #1


Contingency Plans if Covid interrupts 2021-22 season

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AGM Statement 

 about 14 hours ago   By Ian Townsend 

Discussions continue regarding contingency plans if covid interrupts play once more

At last night's Pitching In Isthmian League AGM, our Chairman, Nick Robinson, delivered the following statement to representatives from all of our clubs. We've reproduced it here, unedited.

"You will be aware that at the AGM last year I mentioned that we wanted to have something in place before a ball was kicked to say what would happen in the event of last season being interrupted. We did not manage to achieve that aim last year but we are determined to achieve the aim this year.

To this end you will be aware that a survey was carried out during last season to ascertain the views of Clubs and, taking into account the information and data gained from that survey, the representatives of the Alliance Leagues (the National League, the Northern Premier League, the Southern Football League and this League) in conjunction with the Leagues at Steps 5 and 6 have been working with The FA Executive to work out what is to happen in season 2021-2022 in the event of more interruptions as a result of the Pandemic.

What is absolutely clear is that we cannot go into next season without a contingency plan. Our primary objective is to ensure promotion and relegation at all Steps throughout the National Leagues System this season. We hope to achieve consistency across all Steps of the NLS.

This statement has been agreed with the other Alliance Leagues for me to read out because our AGM is the first of the four Leagues to be held and by the time the other AGMs are held the position may be clearer.


At the moment we have had discussions with The FA Executive and have agreed that if spectators are not allowed then football will not go ahead unless there is Government grant funding in place. We are not happy for Clubs at Steps 3 and 4 to play behind closed doors. Secondary spend is vitally important for the long-term well-being of our Clubs.

It is proposed that in the event of geographical lockdowns then Leagues will manage the situation for as long as possible so that we do not have to, for instance, close down the whole of Steps 3 and 4 simply because there is a lock-down in Bolton or across the whole of Kent as we had last year. This League adopted the policy that any close down should be across the whole League but it is clear that it would not be sensible to apply this across the whole Country. It is anticipated that for a short period of time (perhaps a month) each League would manage localised lockdowns or tiering as we had last year.

The proposed trigger for permitting promotion and relegation has not yet been determined. It is intended to be a percentage of games completed across a Step with final tables on that basis being calculated on an unweighted points per game basis. The Champion and Runner-up Clubs will be promoted and there will be no play-offs.
However, if the agreed percentage of matches cannot be completed then this would trigger an Alternate Competition. Current thinking is that the Alternate Competition would be as envisaged last season so that each Division would be split into two geographical sub divisions with matches being played either home and away or just one match against each Club in the sub division; having completed those matches the Division would be reformed and a table calculated from the data of the matches played to create a final table after which there would be a “Champions League” style of play-off for the promotion and relegation from each Division.
Finally, if a season cannot be completed even with the Alternate Competition, then the aggregate points per game from seasons 2019-2020, 2020-2021 and season 2021-2022 may be used to decide promotion and relegation as it was for promotion from Step 5 at the end of season 2020-2021.


If, as we hope will be the case, we are able to complete the normal season on the last Saturday in April, there are to be Play-Offs.

It is The FA Council, through the Alliance Leagues Committee, which will ultimately make final decisions, but no decision has been taken yet. The purpose of this statement is to ensure that you are aware of the current thinking, and we will keep you informed of any developments as soon as decisions have been taken. As I have said the final decision is with The FA Council who will decide on Rule changes and Regulation changes. The relevant meeting of The FA Council is on 22 July so it is clear from that that you will be aware of the situation before our season commences on 14 August."



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Although posted by the Isthmian League, the above will also be adopted by the Northern Premier League.  

To clarify : If the 2021-22 season is not able to be completed then promotion and relegation will be determined in the following order: 

1   If an agreed percentage of matches have been played (for example 75%) then points per game will determine final positions with champions and runners up promoted (no playoffs). 

2   If it is clear that the agreed percentage of games cannot be achieved then promotion and relegation will be determined by an alternative competition with a reduced number of matches and playoffs. 

3  Finally, if neither of the above can be completed then promotion and relegation will be determined by points per game over the last three curtailed seasons, ie 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22.  





 

Last edited by Matchman (17/6/2021 9:23 AM)

 

24/7/2021 7:01 AM  #2


Re: Contingency Plans if Covid interrupts 2021-22 season

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FROM NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE WEBSITE


Provisional Plans Agreed For Season Disruption

 about 14 hours ago
By James Heyes4

Discussions for further disruption plans underway 

Contingency plans are being put in place in case of any coronavirus related disruption to the 2021/22 season.

After the 2019/20 campaign was declared null and void following the stoppage of the season at the outbreak of COVID in March, the 2020/21 season was curtailed after barely a handful of league games had been completed.

While the current situation is clearer than this time last year, when the season start was delayed, there are still concerns of the impact any further lockdowns might have.

One of the key considerations to a contingency plan is to preserve promotion and relegation throughout the pyramid, as we now enter the third successive season of the same teams in the NPL Premier Division owing to no teams going up or coming down.

If, as expected, the season starts successfully on August 14, league tables will be finalised where the division has completed at least 75% of its fixtures, on an unweighted Points Per Game (PPG) basis.

Promotion and relegation would take place based on those standings, largely in accordance with the usual position; with the committee making a decision on whether play-offs would take place or the top two clubs were promoted instead.

A second proposal, if the season doesn’t get underway before the end of October, is to create an alternate competition where clubs play each other once, or existing divisions are split in half with clubs playing each other on a home and away basis.

Northern Premier League chairman, Mark Harris, said: “It has taken some time to finalise the Contingency Plans as issued by the FA. It isn’t simply a matter of agreeing a course of action but also identifying any potential unintended consequences and evaluating each one.  “A lot of time was devoted to trying to give clubs and fans as much clarity as possible without committing to a series of actions that may not be entirely appropriate at the time they have to be implemented.  “As I have said many times before, it’s easy to predict there may be further Covid-related fixture disruption this winter. It’s much harder to predict what restrictions government might enforce if and when that happens. “We need as much flexibility as possible and it will not be individual leagues but the FA Alliance and Leagues committees making the ultimate decisions.”

A third approach has also been detailed, for if the season starts before October and cannot achieve 75% of its fixtures; or if the alternate competition is started but cannot be completed.In that instance, a supplementary competition can be implemented which could be extended beyond the end of the traditional season, utilising results from the 2021/22 season and to ensure there is sufficient data to determine a final league standing.

In the document, the The FA’s Alliance Leagues Committee said: “The Committee acknowledges the difficulties that different clubs and divisions have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, including when certain areas of the country have had tougher restrictions than others. The Committee therefore proposes to consider each division’s individual circumstances when determining which of the above Approaches to apply, whilst also ensuring that all divisions are treated fairly and consistently. “This may therefore lead to different divisions within the same Step being subject to different Approaches.

Nonetheless, where the Committee applies PPG (Approach 1), or an Alternate Competition (Approach 2) is implemented and completed, the Committee intends to consider that division to have completed the 2021/22 season such that its league table can be finalised. “The Committee’s intention, in line with the objectives above, is for promotion and relegation to occur where standings have been determined, but this will be subject to a wider review of all divisions in the Steps to ensure the integrity and stability of the NLS is maintained. If a Supplementary Competition (Approach 3) is required, the Committee will consider whether promotion and relegation can occur.”


Separate agreements are being made via the leagues committee for steps 5 and 6 and by the National League for steps 1 and 2.Clubs, who have received the proposals in full, are being invited to provide their observations or views on the proposals to the FA via email..

 

Last edited by Matchman (25/7/2021 9:30 AM)

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