All the clubs in the NLN and NLS who refused to play and were in breach of rule 8.39 have been fined and will start the season with a two point penalty. Dover will not be relegated from the National League but have been fined £40k and will start with minus 12 points.
Also the fine was only £2,000 and reduced to £1400 if accepted before the hearing. Not a big deal really. League has imposed lightweight sanctions to try and keep the rules/integrity of the league in tact, clubs dont get any points deducted unless they do the same again but hopefully fans will be back from July subject to cases, variants etc. I didnt think the league would come down too hard on clubs considering all the factors but Dover seems a bit different.
If you were any of the clubs being fined it would be a bit dumb to start next season without having it in writing the order of precedent with which the competition rules may be ignored, as the playing regulations now appear to take precedent over the financial, if the DH appraisal of the rules was correct. Possibly a good season to borrow a shed load of money to punt at promotion if you know others are cash strapped and there is little emphasis on the financial regulations....
-- Edited by stafford on Saturday 27th of March 2021 01:55:52 AM
