Gateshead out of play offs

[Tricky Trevor]

The EFL have refused Gateshead a play off QF as they do not have 10 year tenure on their stadium.
Solihull Moors get a bye into an away semi at Barnet.
EFL saying the situation has been known about long term and they are sorry Gateshead can’t progress thei league position until this is sorted.

[yTib]

gazza will be drowning his sorrows over that one.

[aclaretinstevenage]

Might seem harsh - and it's a tough one for the players and management team - but the rule has always been there apparently.

Mind you it's a dump as a football stadium making The Withdean look good!

[equinox]

Real shame this, Gateshead are probably the one club that I least give a sh!t about.

[ClaretTony]

It’s so hard when you’ve got there but rules are rules and they will have known about them.

[aclaretinstevenage]

It’s so hard when you’ve got there but rules are rules and they will have known about them.

I agree, it seems illogical for the Council to refuse the request given the place hosts "major" Athletics events as well......unless of course they are going to sell the place to a developer!

[bfcmik]

I suspect some of the Council's refusal came because of EFL requirements for off the pitch buildings, e.g. changing facilities, referee facilities, lighting, police control building, etc., which could necessitate planning consents and may impact on the multi-use purpose of the site.

[Hipper]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68869062

[gc14]

No bye for Solihull now , they play Halifax on wednesday ...

[Tricky Trevor]

No bye for Solihull now , they play Halifax on wednesday ...

Does that mean 4th placed Altrincham got the bye?

[Ashingtonclaret46]

Does that mean 4th placed Altrincham got the bye?

As far as I have heard, Altrincham do get a bye into the next stage.

[wilks_bfc]

Does that mean 4th placed Altrincham got the bye?

It’s in the link

The National League initially said Solihull would get a bye to the semi-finals but then adjusted the draw based on final league positions.

Altrincham, who finished fourth, will now get a bye to the semi-finals, where they will travel to Bromley, while Solihull will host FC Halifax Town on Wednesday for the right to visit Barnet in the last four.

[Quickenthetempo]

It's a big problem for local sport in Britain.
.Councils are reluctant to give out long leases any more as they see sporting facilities as potential housing sites with money making options.

The clubs can't get decent sized grants without long leases as there's no guarantee the club will still play there after spending the money.

[IanMcL]

It's a big problem for local sport in Britain.
.Councils are reluctant to give out long leases any more as they see sporting facilities as potential housing sites with money making options.

The clubs can't get decent sized grants without long leases as there's no guarantee the club will still play there after spending the money.

Any lost sporting pitch needs to be replaced. Planning laws.

[IanMcL]

It is a shame for Gateshead, who used to be one of the 92, until going bust. Shadow of the Magpies.

[wilks_bfc]

It's a big problem for local sport in Britain.
.Councils are reluctant to give out long leases any more as they see sporting facilities as potential housing sites with money making options.

The clubs can't get decent sized grants without long leases as there's no guarantee the club will still play there after spending the money.

I wouldn’t want to live in any housing on the location of Gateshead International Stadium

[Quickenthetempo]

I wouldn’t want to live in any housing on the location of Gateshead International Stadium

It was a general point, although I'm sure Gateshead is lovely

[claptrappers_union]

The council don't want a succesfull football club.

[ClaretLoup]

Just to clarify Gateshead Council are the owners of Gateshead International Stadium and are currently looking to put out to tender the management of the GIS plus two other leisure facilities therefore they cannot guarantee the lease of the facilities for the next ten years.

The Council attempted to negotiate with the EFL but the latter refused to accept any subsequent future re-negotiation with any potential future privately owned leaseholders.

The backdrop is that last year Gateshead Council claim they were forced to close two leisure facilities in the borough. The council need to find £50 million worth of savings in their overall budget over the next five years. They also state that the GIS needs £4 million to be spent on repairs over the next decade and over that period the running costs will be a further £7 million.

It’s not clear if receipts will cover those costs and conversely they also state the GIS was added to the bundle to make it more attractive to potential investors.

A number of local people claim the previously closed leisure facilities were mismanaged.

However there is no doubt that the Leisure facilities must have suffered under COVID when there was no income and costs further ramped up in the energy crisis last year. Gateshead have also suffered a £180 million cut in Government funding since 2012. The vast majority of local authority spending goes on social care on the young and elderly as well as housing which in a depressed will have increased under austerity.