Following a decision by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to severely limit any further direct grant aid to National League (NL) clubs despite the continuing ban on spectators due to the pandemic, the NL held virtual meetings with all its 66 clubs yesterday afternoon and evening(20th January).

Three options were put on the table :-

1. The operation of a Club Loan process.

2. The operation of a NL loan resulting in loss of central funding to clubs 

3. A suspension to The NL 2020/21 season.

Clubs were told by the NL to come back that same evening with their preferred options.  

It was a unanimous decision by the Board of Tonbridge Angels to recommend option 3 and the NL were thus informed at nine o’ clock yesterday evening.

Said Angels Chairman Dave Netherstreet : “With no real certainty as to when restrictions will be eased or lifted completely,  to commit to unknown levels of debt whether direct or indirect seems to us a dangerous and foolhardy path down which to proceed.   We want our supporters to be able to return to a thriving community club once this terrible pandemic is over.”

Representations are being made by the club to the Government via local MP, Tom Tugendhat, regarding the funding of the NL.

A decision from the NL is expected by tomorrow (22nd January).