National League statement

Confirmed by the club

Suspect it will the last match for a while.

I think they are probably playing for time to try to come to a decision that will have the least effect on clubs finances etc. The suspension in the PL and EFL was driven by PL clubs, not the FA and seems to have caught everyone off guard. When the NL shuts down, there is a real prospect of it staying shut until next season given that this virus will be around until the summer. Not least because many clubs player contracts will end at the of April/early May, so extending it into June and beyond (which is what the PL and ELF seem to expect to happen) is not a realistic prospect apart for full time clubs.

There's no question that this is going to hit clubs at the bottom of the pyramid very hard financially especially if it drags on for some time.

I'm certainly not holding my breath and realise it's in the realms of serious wishful thinking, but wouldn't this be a great opportunity for the PL clubs to drip down some of their riches to lower league clubs to help them out.
The goodwill generated across the board would be terrific but, I suppose, this won't cross their minds.

My thoughts - end all leagues now, with final positions being based on average points per game(times the full number of games). Play-offs behind closed doors. Kings Lynn win the league on 86.709 points, and we finish 6th with 70.875 points. Average gates receipts lost to be funded by the PL.(in my dreams)

Another 30 years...

Includes Kettering, whose match went ahead despite this happening to one of their players prior to the match -
“All of us here at Kettering Town wish Alistair Smith a speedy recovery after he collapsed with a fever this morning. We are hearing he has been moved into seven-day isolation. All the best Ali.”

Maidstone United manager Alan Devonshire -
"It's about people's lives. How we're playing today, I do not know."
"The EFL and the Premier League have made a decision, near enough every other league has followed them, and how the National League hasn't you'll have to ask them. It's wrong."

Eastleigh manager Ben Strevens -
"The reason National League games went ahead and the EFL games didn't go ahead and the Premier League games didn't go ahead is because whoever sits on the board of the National League cared about money. Simple as that. For the well-being of the spectators and it's not only players because they're young, fit athletes. It's nothing to do with that."
"It's the supporters who come here - and it's not only the supporters, we've got a kitman who is an old boy. I looked around today and there's stewards that are older. They're the ones that are most at risk from this virus."
"There's no way whatsoever these games should have been played. If the EFL are not playing them and if the Premier League are not playing them, then the National League shouldn't be playing them."
"By Monday all of the games will be stopped, 100% they will, because of how many games were called off today."
"There are things more important than football and people have to realise that."

Meanwhile in an alternate universe, Halifax manager Pete Wild -

"I was pleasantly surprised when the league said the fixtures were on,"  I think they've took a pragmatic approach, regardless of opinion. Government advice says crack on, so crack on."

"Like any other day of the week, if you're ill, phone in sick. If you're not, get on with your job, and that's what we've done."

"I don't think there's any need to be calling games off so I think they made the right choice."

National League chief executive Michael Tattersall - "It's not really a time for having an argument, it's a time for reflecting on what's happening in our society."
"We're going to put out our own statement thanking everybody for their efforts today and sending everybody who is suffering from the virus or self-isolating all our best wishes."

The comments from Mike Tattersall, what's happening in our society right now Mike is people are concerned for certain age groups, and everything is shutting down around the globe to try and protect people, but as long as the League say thanks to those who didn't choose to raise concerns on Friday about why the league was continuing when all others were stopping then that's okay.

A statement made today to say thanks to those who played their games at the League's request.

Incredible.

Still feel we made the right decision here.

Jeff

Jeff I think all Chester fans understand even if the National League jobsworths don't. Responsible and correct decision from the club.

Jeff I think our ball 🎾 was certainly on the right side of the court in regards to the decision the club itself elected to make in the absence of the governing body being prepared to make or do the right thing.
The Halifax statement is a source of amusement sadly in these very challenging times.
For now let’s hope that all connected with our club young and old stay safe and healthy .

Technically yes I think. Alty are issuing an update tomorrow evening, though by then the NL board may well have come to their senses and pulled the plug.

One did not need to be a scientist to know that The Cheltenham Festival going ahead was barmy. I live in Worcester and it rams towns and villages for miles around.

True, but it was the Friday when the National League made the decision for games to go ahead. 

Some of the fixtures that weekend - Spurs v Man Utd, Villa v Chelsea and a Merseyside derby on the Monday. All would've gone ahead if the Premier League hadn't taken action.