I've read that Whitby Town have until 7th June to finish ground improvements... OR ELSE!

Does anyone know any details about this, and are there any other clubs facing the same deadline in the Premier Division and what are the consequences if they fail to finish on time?

Could we have another Ossett/Hyde situation?

Don't worry about Whitby Town. The work is finished last I heard.
It was only installing more 50 seats and a couple of new turnstiles.

Plus we are less than £13k away from getting to our target for building our new stand, which will ensure our statusthe following season. All bought and paid for!!

I understand that at least 7 clubs were given extensions into June to complete work on their grounds, mainly because the work could not be carried out without closing the ground and obviously they needed to finish the season.

At Marine we had to extend the dressing rooms and do some work on the pitch perimeter fencing, which should all be finished by the weekend.

If clubs do not get the 'A' grading before the AGM there may well be forced relegations.

The silly season isn't here yet!!

Mariners Rest, you mention that there were at least 7 clubs needing to get their grounds upto scratch, or face forced relegations. Obviously Whitby & Marine are on the list, what about the others, and how are they doing?

Droylsden need to get some work done at the Butchers Arms, and Frickley alway's looks like it needs a bit of work doing! Possibly Hucknall & Blyth too? Anyone got the deffinative list?


I know it's a terrible way to gain promotion, but this could be Chorley's back door to the Premier league. We were play-off finalists - beating Gateshead in the semi-final, who would normally be first in line for a repreive as they were the highest placed relegated club - so you can understand my interest in this.

I'm sure any other club in our position would take the opportunity should it be offered!

Blyth have been doing some ground works, but this has been in association with the council in order to fulfil the latest health and safety requirements, as well as replacing some worn out parts of the ground.

As far as I know it's not a ground grading issue.

If any Premier Division clubs wre to be relegated due to ground grading (and I really cannot imagine that any will not have completed the work by the weekend) then I think you would find that the order of Reprieve/Promotion would be:-

Gateshead
Colwyn Bay
Hyde
But then the problems start. Because the play offs would have been meaningless we at Ferriby would claim the next spot by finishing 4th. You (naturally) would claim that you got further through the play offs than us and should therefore get the next spot. (And, of course, you were the only side to do the double over us).

They could possibly order a match between us, a little difficult as our pitch now resembles Scarborough beach having just had £20k spent on it.

As I say I don't think it will happen, but we can dream!

Surely Hyde should be top of that list, Dave ?

But I think you're right, judging by the high jinks at the end of last season, the Prem clubs will be reprieved first.

It's a shabby way to win promotion in any case.

Hi Mark,

Hyde top of the list - what could you possibly mean??!!

A shabby way I agree, but I guess we'd both take it, particularly in view of the prize available NEXT August.

Sorry chaps, but we have no problems, had an 'A' grade for 2 seasons now - the only addition we required was a 4th turnstile ! (been in use for last 6 weeks of last season)

if you look at the grading required for the new norther alliance, it is slightly less than now !! and it would seem there will be a relaxing of the Conference criteria, now that the Football league have relaxed theirs!

i will be gobsmacked if any club is relegated at the agm due to ground grading - Their is more pressue from the League and the FA to make sure finance's are correct - another worry no doubt for some clubs

Andy,

Where do we look for the Alliance grading requirements?

I'd be shocked if anyone was relegated especially with the alliance looming.

The league will want to be as nice as possible to some clubs just incase they decide to stay where they are.

I know for sure that if the alliance had gone ahead for the season approaching, then Whitby Town would not have joined up. What the committee are planning on doing if finish high enough next season I do not know!

Sorry Locki, but Frickley were awarded an 'A' grade before the original deadline of March 31st.