The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

Just read this:

http://www.northantset.co.uk/sport/Wrac ... 6127916.jp

Am I missing something here? Can they compete in the play-offs if they make it? I thought that as they haven't sorted out their ground issues and can't be admitted into the FL that they wouldn't be allowed to compete in the play-offs and that any potential opponent would be given a bye to the Final - is that right??

Be funny as hell if they can't and they sneak into the last spot at the expense of Luton thanks to us beating the Shatters on the last day

PigmanRDFC wrote:Just read this:

http://www.northantset.co.uk/sport/Wrac ... 6127916.jp

Am I missing something here? Can they compete in the play-offs if they make it? I thought that as they haven't sorted out their ground issues and can't be admitted into the FL that they wouldn't be allowed to compete in the play-offs and that any potential opponent would be given a bye to the Final - is that right??

Be funny as hell if they can't and they sneak into the last spot at the expense of Luton thanks to us beating the Shatters on the last day

Don't know about the last bit, but unless they have been able to secure another ten years, they would not be allowed in. On a related issue to confirm this, the below article is for Mansfield, but they have had to secure a new lease to compete in case they get into the playoff places. It even clearly states that you need a minimum of ten years:

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/footb ... ticle.html


And more official:

http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/NewsD ... 53,00.html

From the Football League's website:

http://www.football-league.co.uk/public ... 592_634054

pdf:

http://www.football-league.co.uk/static ... 699,00.pdf

Where a Football Conference Club believes that it will be in a position to qualify for promotion from
The Football Conference to The Football League at the end of the Season, that club must, by the
1st March in that Season, lodge with The Football League such documentation and other evidence
as may be required to satisfy The League that it can comply with the Qualification Criteria. All
applications must be accompanied with the League’s Self–Assessment Form (see Appendix B
attached), and all appropriate supporting evidence, including:

• Evidence of the location of the club’s ground.
• Evidence that the club either owns the freehold of the ground or has a leasehold interest in
all of the ground for a minimum of 10 years from the date of becoming a member of The
Football League.
• If the club has a ground-sharing arrangement, evidence that the club has primacy of
fixtures and the ability to postpone other activities scheduled to take place on the pitch, in
the immediately preceding 48 hour period where there is a risk such activity may result in
the postponement or abandonment of a match to be played under the auspices of The
League.
• If the club is planning to move to a new stadium, plans and details of any proposed future
move.
• Evidence of the current certifiable capacity of the stadium as confirmed by the local
authority and verified by The Football Licensing Authority. (The club must fulfil the
qualification criteria [capacity], of a minimum capacity of 4,000 including 500 covered seats
prior to 1st
March in the current Season.)

No comment, just wanted my avatar on. ;)

"THE FOOTBALL CONFERENCE PLAY-OFFS & PROMOTION FINAL SEASON
At the end of the season, the clubs who finish in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, & 5th and whose registered home ground has been inspected on or before 1st March in the season and meets the Criteria for Admission to Membership of the Football League Grading requirements in force that season and the Criteria for Admission to Full Membership of the Football Conference Limited shall be eligible to enter the end of season Football Conference Play-Offs and Promotion Final competition.
Play-Off Semi-Final matches shall be played over two legs on a Home and Away basis with a single leg Promotion Final at a neutral ground selected by the Football Conference Board of Directors.
This rule may be varied prior to the season at a formerly constituted AGM/EGM, or Special Meeting of all clubs, but must not be varied following commencement of the season.
In the Play-Off Semi-Finals, the two teams who finish Second and Third respectively in the Conference at the end of the Playing Season, will play away from home in the First Leg, 5th v 2nd, 4th v 3rd with the Second Legs being reversed to

2nd v 5th & 3rd v 4th.
If for any reason the clubs in second or third place are unable to stage the second leg ties at Home on the dates required the tie will automatically be reversed.
Any club not able to forfill a fixture (first or second leg tie) on the scheduled date may be subject to exclusion from the Play-Offs.
Should teams in first, second, third, fourth, or fifth place not meet the Criteria of The Football League by 1st March in the season or the Criteria of the Full Membership of the Football Conference Limited they will be excluded from participating in any Play-Off matches.
In the event of any club(s) not able to meet the criteria Play-Offs may be replaced by a club in the next qualifying position, should the club being excluded being based on a reduced position at the end of the playing season by a points sanction, which places their final position below 5th place and the draw for the matches will be made on the basis of final qualifying positions. "
http://www.confguide.com/Story/0,21423,13308,00.html

Thanks for the clarification TofD, much appreciated !!

Flippin' heck that's a bit wordy!

'may be replaced by a club in the next qualifying position'

So this means if K*ttering finish 5th and are not allowed to compete, rather than Stevenage getting a bye to the final, 6th place would enter the playoffs I guess?

Harry wrote:Flippin' heck that's a bit wordy!

'may be replaced by a club in the next qualifying position'

So this means if K*ttering finish 5th and are not allowed to compete, rather than Stevenage getting a bye to the final, 6th place would enter the playoffs I guess?

The word is may not will.

Plenty of leeway for the Conference to do as they please. That's the way they like it! :evil:

Harry wrote:Flippin' heck that's a bit wordy!

'may be replaced by a club in the next qualifying position'

So this means if K*ttering finish 5th and are not allowed to compete, rather than Stevenage getting a bye to the final, 6th place would enter the playoffs I guess?

In a word, yes.

Imagine how their forum would be if we finished 6th and them 5th and they got told they couldn't compete. Although, I'd rather not take that risk and finish at least fifth because I think Wimbledon are a far greater threat.