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General Category => Altrincham FC First Team => Topic started by: Brian Flynn on June 20, 2020, 03:34:45 PM
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There is an update on the play-offs on the official club website.
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"The working assumption is that all 6 National League North teams will take part in the play-offs, although it is possible that could change.
For the play-offs to take place, at least 4 of the 6 clubs must take part in each competition."
Is there a date by which teams must confirm whether or not they are willing to participate in these proposed play-offs?
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Boston chairman David Newton on Radio Lincolnshire this afternoon said 3 clubs in the NLN committed to the play-off's straight away and the other 3 are keen but evaluating all factors.
He was pretty confident they would get 4 teams.
All clubs agreed to try and use the same squads they had at lockdown for the play offs. Discussions about loan players ongoing with NL/FA.
No date set by which the clubs need to commit.
Venues - a number of options but just waiting final clarification that the play-off are going ahead.
Estimated costs discussed between the clubs was £30k to £70K.
Boston are training at Doncaster Rovers due to building works etc.
Boston want promotion and therefore money not the issue but the chance to compete makes it is a no brainer.
Pushing for BT Sport to cover games live which will help with costs.
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Boston chairman David Newton on Radio Lincolnshire this afternoon said 3 clubs in the NLN committed to the play-off's straight away and the other 3 are keen but evaluating all factors.
He was pretty confident they would get 4 teams.
All clubs agreed to try and use the same squads they had at lockdown for the play offs. Discussions about loan players ongoing with NL/FA.
No date set by which the clubs need to commit.
Venues - a number of options but just waiting final clarification that the play-off are going ahead.
Estimated costs discussed between the clubs was £30k to £70K.
Boston are training at Doncaster Rovers due to building works etc.
Boston want promotion and therefore money not the issue but the chance to compete makes it is a no brainer.
Pushing for BT Sport to cover games live which will help with costs.
I hope he is right..
We need one more team to commit.
Let’s see which of the other three teams are committed.( Boston, York and us have said yes).
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Gateshead this afternoon made it four so play offs should be on at the moment alty york Boston gateshead in
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Gateshead this afternoon made it four so play offs should be on at the moment alty york Boston gateshead in
Fingers crossed
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So, am I right in thinking that we are now in the slightly odd position of hoping that one of Chester or Brackley decide not to take part? It's all very confusing.
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So, am I right in thinking that we are now in the slightly odd position of hoping that one of Chester or Brackley decide not to take part? It's all very confusing.
I would hope they both duck out.
We would then play York away, and Boston would welcome Gateshead..
Not sure what would happen if only one of Chester and Brackley say they want to go in the playoffs.
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So, am I right in thinking that we are now in the slightly odd position of hoping that one of Chester or Brackley decide not to take part? It's all very confusing.
I would hope they both duck out.
We would then play York away, and Boston would welcome Gateshead..
Not sure what would happen if only one of Chester and Brackley say they want to go in the playoffs.
I think that's incorrect. York who "finished" second would entertain the lowest team, Gateshead, while we would travel to Boston (unless they have to play at Doncastet or somewhere).
If only one dropped out, then Gateshead would travel to the lowest other qualifier, which would be either Chester or us, in a single preliminary round match.
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So, am I right in thinking that we are now in the slightly odd position of hoping that one of Chester or Brackley decide not to take part? It's all very confusing.
I would hope they both duck out.
We would then play York away, and Boston would welcome Gateshead..
Not sure what would happen if only one of Chester and Brackley say they want to go in the playoffs.
I think that's incorrect. York who "finished" second would entertain the lowest team, Gateshead, while we would travel to Boston (unless they have to play at Doncastet or somewhere).
If only one dropped out, then Gateshead would travel to the lowest other qualifier, which would be either Chester or us, in a single preliminary round match.
Yes, you could have that right.
Things will change.
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It appears that Boston's lease on York Street ends on June 30th and the new stadium isn't ready yet. They could extend the lease for another month or hire Peterborough or a ground in Yorkshire (a long way from Boston, but more convenient for their manager and players at a match played behind closed doors). Alternatively, the National League could switch any fixture to the other team's ground.
There are a lot of uncertainties yet.
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It appears that Boston's lease on York Street ends on June 30th and the new stadium isn't ready yet. They could extend the lease for another month or hire Peterborough or a ground in Yorkshire (a long way from Boston, but more convenient for their manager and players at a match played behind closed doors). Alternatively, the National League could switch any fixture to the other team's ground.
There are a lot of uncertainties yet.
Looks like Brackley are going for it.
No official statement from Chester yet.
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I believe boston are in training at doncaster
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It will be strange, a lot of prep which could be just for 1 game. Will this mean that we are unable to firm up our squad until after they are completed in case we are playing in the National?
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It will be strange, a lot of prep which could be just for 1 game. Will this mean that we are unable to firm up our squad until after they are completed in case we are playing in the National?
Great opportunity,.. not too much to lose.
If it were just one game then at least the costs would be a lot less and allow PP more time to sort the squad for NLN.
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http://www.chesterfc.com/2020/06/22/club-statement-national-league-north-play-offs-update/
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It will be strange, a lot of prep which could be just for 1 game. Will this mean that we are unable to firm up our squad until after they are completed in case we are playing in the National?
Great opportunity,.. not too much to lose.
If it were just one game then at least the costs would be a lot less and allow PP more time to sort the squad for NLN.
Only major disadvantage is if we go up that we've not been able to have a full four months to prep.
If we stay at this level, Unless we raid Playoff squads at this level, which is unlikely to happen, we'd have to look above so we'd be best waiting to make our moves.
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I'm confident that as long as we don't lose anyone, we'll be OK regardless of the league we're playing in next season.
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http://www.chesterfc.com/2020/06/22/club-statement-national-league-north-play-offs-update/
An interesting bit of that Chester statement is:
"The Club is required to develop a thorough Covid risk assessment and stadium management plan in the unlikely event we are required to host a game in the play-offs. This plan includes the appointment of a Covid Officer and Medical Officer and must be approved by both the Safety Advisory Group and the National League."
The one club that doesn't have to do all that of course is Gateshead. Does this put them at any financial advantage compared to the other five?
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I'm confident that as long as we don't lose anyone, we'll be OK regardless of the league we're playing in next season.
I don’t think we’re too far off at this level, having already been forced to do what could be considered decent summer business halfway through the season. But I wouldn’t underestimate the influence Josh Lundstram was having on our (what turned out to be...) end of season form.
Does anyone know if he is going to be available to us for the play offs?
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http://www.chesterfc.com/2020/06/22/club-statement-national-league-north-play-offs-update/
An interesting bit of that Chester statement is:
"The Club is required to develop a thorough Covid risk assessment and stadium management plan in the unlikely event we are required to host a game in the play-offs. This plan includes the appointment of a Covid Officer and Medical Officer and must be approved by both the Safety Advisory Group and the National League."
The one club that doesn't have to do all that of course is Gateshead. Does this put them at any financial advantage compared to the other five?
Interesting question, albeit it would not surprise me if the NL makes them develop one in any case.
RAMP - Risk Assessment Management Plan : Players tested, training regime as per FA guidelines, equipment cleaned regularly, officials at stadium to social distance at all times, hand sanitiser, pedestrian routes etc. If Tesco in Altrincham can bring in a hundred staff and punters into its store, take deliveries, stock shelves and sell goods all whilst managing Covid-19 on a daily basis, then I am sure AFC can cope with a few match officials, photographer and the ground staff etc. It is clever words for what should be a sensible process based on workplace and FA guidelines.
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Oh by the way...…….I am not belittling the ability of our great team of volunteers and officials to be able to achieve this 'management plan'...……...rather a cynical sneer at what the National League call what is effectively a 'written down' common sense approach to making the match arrangements as safe as possible for all involved in the build up and on the day
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One other thing I'm wondering about is warm-up matches. I assume we'll need at least one before the play-offs but who the hell would it be against? I guess we might be able to scrape enough players together to do it internally? Or might we try and play Halifax, say, if the timings work with the respective NL and NLN play-offs?
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One other thing I'm wondering about is warm-up matches. I assume we'll need at least one before the play-offs but who the hell would it be against? I guess we might be able to scrape enough players together to do it internally? Or might we try and play Halifax, say, if the timings work with the respective NL and NLN play-offs?
Thought Chester was the warm up game? 🤣😂🤣😂
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If the club need any help on the day with security/stewarding just give me a shout.
;)
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Brackley confirm their participation. Looks like we will have Gateshead at home if Chester bottle it.
https://www.brackleytownfc.com/teams/first-team/first-team-news/799-club-statement-on-24-june-play-offs
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Judging by their comms this morning, it appears the club are confident we'll be going ahead v Chester on either 18th / 19th July.
Hopefully the club can get to work on getting some friendlies arranged - although those in close season surely won't be able to make their squads available...
So that leaves Halifax / Harrogate / Notts as some potential options? Could someone like Crewe make themselves available, for example?
It's such a shame the crowd won't be there - something tells me JJ would disappear when enduring the hostilities, whilst Durrell would absolutely thrive on it ;D
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Chester are still discussing whether or not to participate:
https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/sport/football/play-decision-chester-fc-make-18484825 (https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/sport/football/play-decision-chester-fc-make-18484825)
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If I was them I wouldn't bother A waste of money.
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If I was them I wouldn't bother A waste of money.
Let's hope they do though! Now there appears to be 5 teams confirmed, I'd fancy us more with the Chester (H) > York (A) route to the final than I would with us playing Gateshead (H) > Brackley/Boston (A).
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If Chester opt out, the winner of an Alty-Gateshead eliminator would still go to York, wouldn’t they?
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Yes, thats right
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If Chester opt out, the winner of an Alty-Gateshead eliminator would still go to York, wouldn’t they?
Fair enough, sorry. I‘m struggling to keep up.
In which case I’d much rather play Chester first up than Gateshead.
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Chester have deferred their decision until Monday:
https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/sport/football/decision-chester-fc-play-participation-18492098 (https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/sport/football/decision-chester-fc-play-participation-18492098)
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Chester have deferred their decision until Monday:
https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/sport/football/decision-chester-fc-play-participation-18492098 (https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/sport/football/decision-chester-fc-play-participation-18492098)
They're obviously undertaking some meticulous planning of how to finance their bid. Perhaps they're planning a bank raid......
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I think this is a minds game Chester are playing.
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Harrogate have all there loan players. Playing in the playoffs hope alty manage to do the same.
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Am I right or wrong in thinking if chester decide not to partake in playoffs we would get a walkover and play york in semi's. Chester voting on whether to partake in playoffs tonight.
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Am I right or wrong in thinking if chester decide not to partake in playoffs we would get a walkover and play york in semi's. Chester voting on whether to partake in playoffs tonight.
No, Brackley would get a buy, and we would play Gateshead at home
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The latest from Chester:
https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/sport/football/chester-fc-play-off-national-18505944 (https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/sport/football/chester-fc-play-off-national-18505944)
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Chester confirm participation:
http://www.chesterfc.com/2020/06/29/breaking-statement-club-announces-play-off-intention/
Alty Vs Chester it is then.