A non-league football league has announced that it will give a helping hand to clubs from all three of its divisions financially, with many outfits face an uncertain couple of months after the season was cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The North West Counties Football League (NWCFL) said it will provide a “package” that is worth over £35,000 which it hopes will help its members keep afloat despite the lack of matchday income.
Staffordshire teams Hanley Town (Premier Division), Eccleshall, Stone Old Alleynians and Abbey Hulton United (all First Division South) play in the NWCFL.
This package includes the wavering of the annual league subscription for the 2020/21 campaign with the same going for the Macron Cup and the Playermatch.com Cup.
Additionally, clubs will be reimbursed for fees paid to attend the Annual General Meeting and Awards Dinner in Blackpool after this was cancelled while teams who are owed money for match officials travelling expenses will receive payment for this “with immediate effect” too.
The league also said it is still looking into ways to further reduce costs ahead of next season.
A spokesperson for NWCFL said: “Earlier this week the Finance Committee held a meeting via our conference call facility to come up a package that can help our clubs.
“These recommendations have been subsequently been approved and ratified by the Board via email communications. The total amount of the package that was agreed totals over £35,000.
“The league are also looking to further reduce costs for the 2020/21 season through a variety of measures that can in turn be passed onto the clubs.
“Unfortunately, any outstanding amounts that clubs owe to the league via fines or referee equalisation cannot be written off. However any clubs that do owe money can request a deferment via the League Secretary on the amount owed to.”
NWCFL Paul Lawler commented: “I am delighted that we are able to help our clubs during this extremely difficult and uncertain times.
“As a League we have always tried to have contingency in place if needed. Now is the time. Unfortunately we don’t have huge sums of money but hope this goes some way to help.”
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