League two clubs vote to end season

[Big Bob]

I think you can forget about any further talks on promotion and i seriously think we won't see out beloved pies in action until next year as i see this virus on a 2nd wave

[ForeignLegion]

Mystic Meg speaks

[MAD_MAGPIE]

Do Harrogate have the funds to remove their plastic pitch? These are all things that need to be considered if playoffs are to be used. No point in Harrogate taking part if they can't go up. This has massive knock on effects, it's not going to be normal for a few seasons

I wasn’t aware Harrogate had a plastic pitch. Surely the owner and chairman will try and move heaven and earth to be able to get the funds to rip that pitch up and put a grass one down otherwise it undermines the clubs success so far this season and the clubs progression. For a club like Harrogate to get promotion to the football league for the first time is huge.

It’s a good point you make though because if they cant afford to make the changes to comply with EFL rules then that could have an impact on their ability to credibly partake in the playoffs should they happen. Or take up the offer of an invite if any football league clubs go under.

[Chinawhite1000]

Especially when Barrow's leading goalscorer faced a 3 match ban.

yes Quigley was out for 3 games - but they were the 3 games before we played Harrogate. We'd signed a Welsh U21 Striker on loan from Blackburn as cover. John Rooney whilst not a striker was joint 2nd highest scorer in the league and would have been top scorer if he knew how to take penalties....
And don't forget Harrogate had to play Notts 3 times in 10 days (including the Trophy matches).

[Chinawhite1000]

I wasn’t aware Harrogate had a plastic pitch. Surely the owner and chairman will try and move heaven and earth to be able to get the funds to rip that pitch up and put a grass one down otherwise it undermines the clubs success so far this season and the clubs progression. For a club like Harrogate to get promotion to the football league for the first time is huge.

It’s a good point you make though because if they cant afford to make the changes to comply with EFL rules then that could have an impact on their ability to credibly partake in the playoffs should they happen. Or take up the offer of an invite if any football league clubs go under.

The Harrogate owner who is also the Managers Dad (i believe) has already said they would rip the pitch up - and as the guys minted he would have done it.

[Chinawhite1000]

It’s a good point you make though because if they cant afford to make the changes to comply with EFL rules then that could have an impact on their ability to credibly partake in the playoffs should they happen. Or take up the offer of an invite if any football league clubs go under.

Notts decision to dig up their pitch might impact Notts ability to play games at home in the play offs - IF they were to be played soon - although lack of fans at grounds would mitigate any effect that playing away had.

[Chinawhite1000]

from a Barrow perspective obviously we would accept any invite to join the EFL should they ask us. However I also believe that there is no way Stevenage should be reprieved and would expect the EFL/FA to insist that there is relegation* - and therefore the NL play off's have to happen. (*unless Macclesield or AN Other go bust)

[MAD_MAGPIE]

I agree, but the reasons Stevenage should not be relegated according to FL are exactly why it would be wrong to promote Barrow. There is no reason to believe Barrow would have finished top. Nothing more than a guess.

I’m with you on this one about Barrow. As others have said it wasn’t like they were 10 or more points clear of everyone else. They were four points clear of Harrogate who they had to play next and had just lost their leading scorer to a three match ban.

There is no way that season was over. The recent comments made by the Barrow manager Ian Evatt about nobody being able to argue that they should be promoted are either arrogant or clutching at straws at best. Especially when there were nine games left to play.

I think that clubs like Harrogate and ours might have something to argue about Mr Evatt.

They have won nothing and should not be promoted if the results are cancelled.

At the end of the day if it’s by invite to the EFL then they will ultimately make the decision. I guess the easy option for them is to invite Barrow as they were top of the tree at the time the games ended. However for clubs like Harrogate and ours it would have a sense of injustice and would leave a bitter taste of what if and so close yet so far from a purely sporting perspective.

It’s typical isn’t it. Notts come good in the business end of the season, are still in a cup competition with two possible trips to Wembley and this happens. Trivial with what’s going off in the world, frustrating in purely sporting terms.

[MAD_MAGPIE]

Notts decision to dig up their pitch might impact Notts ability to play games at home in the play offs - IF they were to be played soon - although lack of fans at grounds would mitigate any effect that playing away had.

It’s not a typical pitch rip up so to speak and one that would normally take nine weeks, instead it’s one that takes around six weeks.. We’ve took a layer off and it was started around mid April such that the pitch would be ready in June. No playoffs will be happening before then so I’m confident our excellent ground staff could have our pitch ready if required for any playoffs in June.

I think it was an excellent idea and means we could have a perfect pitch ready for the playoffs should they happen and one that will serve us well for next season when that happens.

[Chinawhite1000]

It’s not a typical pitch rip up so to speak and one that would normally take nine weeks, instead it’s one that takes around six weeks.. We’ve took a layer off and it was started around mid April such that the pitch would be ready in June. No playoffs will be happening before then so I’m confident our excellent ground staff could have our pitch ready if required for any playoffs in June.

I think it was an excellent idea and means we could have a perfect pitch ready for the playoffs should they happen and one that will serve us well for next season when that happens.

If it's the 6 weeks like you say you'll be fine - we've done that after the end of the last 2 seasons.