MX23RW : Thursday, October 7 05:01:08| >> :600:284903:284903:

Dover chairman threatens to "cease football operations'" amid funding problem

National League clubs were given four weeks to vote on the status of the season.

Dover chairman Jim Parmenter has threatened to "cease football operations" and place all of the club's staff on furlough this week if the National League continues without funding.

The 66 clubs that make up the National League, National League North and National League South began the season in October on the understanding that initial grant funding would continue into 2021 if fans were not allowed to attend matches.

However, this has not been the case.

At the beginning of the month, National League clubs were given four weeks to vote on the status of the season.

In a statement, Parmenter said: "I am really concerned that the current direction of travel will force clubs to take financial risks they would not otherwise take, and I am determined that Dover Athletic will not be one of those clubs.

"We play football for our fans and our community and in their absence, I can see no logic in burdening the club with hundreds of thousands of pounds of debt to complete a meaningless season.

"Funding ended six weeks ago now and without any form of significant income stream I have had to continue to fund the club – this cannot continue and if action is not taken the club will become insolvent.

"I have (as promised) run the club without debt for 15 years and I do not intend to change that now.

"Therefore, unless the situation changes in the next couple of days, I will have no option but to furlough all staff, cut all possible expenditure and cease football operations."

Dover are second from bottom in the division, and are due to travel to FC Halifax on Saturday.

Meanwhile, coronavirus cases in the EFL have continued to decrease, with 16 positive results in the latest round of testing.

The latest figures, from 5470 tests undertaken from February 1-7 across all 72 clubs, are three down on the equivalent results from 5,448 tests the previous week.

The number of clubs reporting zero positive cases was 64, one down on the week before.

ID:434498: cacheID:434498:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4397:
Latest coronavirus PSA banner
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Did you know...?
Graham Alexander, now in charge of Motherwell, pictured in September 2020
Read Next:
Graham Alexander delighted to see Motherwell buy into his philosophy
>
Read more about Jim Parmenter Football

rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Grimsby Town1072124111323
2Boreham WoodBoreham Wood10631159621
3Halifax TownHalifax106221810820
4Dagenham & RedbridgeDag & Red1061324141019
5Chesterfield105411810819
6Bromley85121810816
7Solihull MoorsSolihull104421615116
8Woking85031810815
9AltrinchamAltrincham85031612415
10Notts County104331815315
11Stockport CountyStockport9423811-314
12Wrexham93421211113
13Torquay UnitedTorquay Utd103251620-411
14Yeovil TownYeovil731387110
15WealdstoneWealdstone10244916-710
16Eastleigh92341216-49
17Maidenhead UnitedMaidenhead92251115-48
18Southend UnitedSouthend9225712-58
19King's Lynn TownKing's Lynn92251117-68
20Weymouth102261321-88
21Aldershot TownAldershot92161116-57
22Barnet101451121-107
23Dover AthleticDover Athletic10037520-15-9

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!