Even if we snuck into the play offs, would we even be allowed to compete? Surely we've missed the promotion application required. (sorry if this has already been discussed elsewhere.)
The deadline for applications for promotion from the Conference used to be around November time & the cost of applying was not negligible.....£900-£1000 from memory.We only paid this on one occasion (2009-10) when we carried out a bucket collection to help pay the application fee.Things are a little different now & the initial application, which has no cost, needs to be in by the end of this month, so I guess that Mr.Wilshaw will be taking care of that. There is a second stage to the process when the application has to be confirmed & it is then that the application fee has to be paid.I believe that this is in March.So I am sure that that if there was any possibility of us achieving the Play-Offs at that point, we would confirm the application then & pay the fee, which I think is still about the same amount.
Thanks for the updated info - all seems like a racket to me.
There is a full inspection of the ground & a report produced for the club of what is required.I think that we did quite well last time we were inspected, with no surprises in terms of what was required to upgrade to Football League standard.
Any I application should last a period of time, say 5 years with a self assessment that these elements are still true. There could then be a sub assessment that can applied quickly (after all there are only four qualifiers) upon qualification for the playoffs.
OR....at least a partial refund on if you don't get in to the play offs. Unless it is a not for profit exercise.