Actually, for those who've never researched the links between Gateshead and South Shields, the following potted history may be of interest.
1899 : South Shields formed. They move to a permanent ground at Horsley Hill five years later, and are reasonably successful in North East regional football.
1919 : South Shields elected to the Football League Division 2. Relegated to Division 3 North in 1927.
1930 : South Shields fold. They immediately re-form as Gateshead, move to Redheugh Park, and continue in Division 3 North before failing to gain re-election in 1960 (replaced by Peterborough United).
MEANWHILE : South Shields start from scratch again in 1936, still at Horsley Fields. In 1950 they relocate to Simonside Hall. In the 1960's they are more successful than Gateshead.
1968 : Both clubs become founder members of the Northern Premier League. South Shields initially fare quite well, but Gateshead last only two seasons, and are relegated. Four years later, they go out of business, after playing their final season at Gateshead International Stadium (then known as the Youth Stadium).
1974 : South Shields have financial problems, which culminate in them selling Simonside Hall (a proper football stadium, now a housing estate) and relocating.... you've guessed it. They become Gateshead United.
1977 : After more financial traumas, they re-form again, but are able to continue as Gateshead. They've lasted over 40 years in this guise, which is probably a record for a South Tyneside club.
MEANWHILE : South Shields Mariners are formed in 1977, and play in lower leagues for 18 years at council-owned Jack Clark Park. In 1995 they move to their own ground at Filtrona Park. Due to the increasingly decrepit state of the ground (it was derelict when they first went there), they move
to Peterlee in 2013 for two seasons.
2015 : South Shields return to Filtrona Park and it is renamed Mariners Park. Four seasons later they are beaten finalists in the Evostik Premier League playoff final.
2019 : Gateshead are expelled from the National League.
I think it's safe to assume that the Heed won't be merging with South Shields this time. The most blindingly obvious conclusion to be drawn from the history lesson above is that South Tyneside is totally unable to simultaneously sustain two clubs in separate towns at a decent level.
I don't like the International Stadium, and I don't think I'm alone in that view. In 1969, however, I was privileged to see us play at Simonside Hall. We lost 4-3, with the legendary pairing of Swindells and Worth up front. The fans were welcoming and knowledgeable. It was a proper non-league experience.