'Profoundly flawed' - National League clubs hit out at £10m funding formula

The funding is to help clubs cope without any matchday income as games continue to be played behind closed doors without any fans.

The amount each club will receive has been decided based on last season’s average attendance - but some clubs in the National League have received more money than others in the National League North and South divisions despite having much lower crowds.

For example, the likes of York City, Hereford and Chester in the National League North all averaged more than 2,000 fans for home games but will only receive £36,000 per month in funding compared to Boreham Wood, of the National League, who will get £84,000 despite getting just 700 supporters.

Chesterfield is one of seven National League clubs which will receive £95,000 per month for the next three months. The other 16 clubs will each get £84,000.

Highlighting the discrepancy, Notts County CEO, Jason Turner, said: “The allocation of the monies does not accord with the criteria set out earlier this month, when the government made it clear it should be used to subsidise clubs for their lost gate revenue.

“How can it be right, therefore, that we receive only £11,000 per month more than the likes of Boreham Wood, Wealdstone and Weymouth despite our average attendances being more than five times theirs? They and a host of other clubs are now actually in a stronger financial position than they would have been if crowds were permitted at matches and, as a result, have gained an unfair competitive advantage over clubs like ours who have been left significantly worse off. The allocation is profoundly flawed to the extent that it seriously and adversely impacts the very integrity of the competition.”

Hereford chairman, Andrew Graham, said they were ‘disappointed’ and are ‘urgently assessing the ramifications to the club’.

Chester FC and York City both said in statements that they would be seeking more information and clarity about the formula used to decide how much each club gets.