National League South clubs Hungerford Town and Poole Town poised to be BANNED from the play-offs as their stadiums do not have enough seats
HUNGERFORD TOWN and Poole Town poised to be BANNED from taking part in the play-offs.
The two National League South clubs have been barred after failing to meet the criteria of requiring 500 seats across two stands.
Poole Town have had three promotions in their past five years, but are in danger of not being allowed to challenge for promotion this campaignTwitter @PooleTownFC
Grounds must also include 250 in one stand, and category B stadiums must require a minimum capacity of 3,000 with the potential to increase to 4,000, and must be able to hold both home and away supporters.
Poole chairman Chris Reeves said: “We argue it’s a decision no reasonable tribunal could have come to.”
He added to BBC Radio Solent: “National League South is the only step where, if you have the ground grading for the league in which you play and your efforts on the field justify promotion, you don’t have until 31 March the following season to put things right.
“Each year we have been promoted, we have satisfied the criteria.”
Hungerford Town player Stefan Brown celebrates after scoring to make it 2-0 against Dartford earlier on from the seasonArray
MOST READ IN SPORT
DONE DEAL
Man United boss Jose Mourinho makes Espanyol's Arnau Puigmal his first summer signing
'NOT A COACH'
Arsene Wenger can't coach his way out of a paper bag and Arsenal blocked my return FOUR times, says Tony Adams
Make it happen
Anthony Joshua to fight Wladimir Klitschko, Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury in that order, says Eddie Hearn
Yoko oh yes
Chelsea to ramp up bid to land Tiemoue Bakayoko for £43m and could throw in Michy Batshuayi to seal deal
Talisman
Antonio Conte promises to build Chelsea team around Eden Hazard if Belgian signs new £300k-a-week deal
NO WAY JOSE
Antoine Griezmann will STAY at Atletico Madrid and snub Man United as he 'loves Diego Simeone'
AN OFFER HE CAN'T REFUSE
Legendary WWE icon CM Punk offered staggering $1m to make a one-off return to the ring
AND HE'S WON IT
Ander Herrera bags player of the year award at Man United's lavish end of season bash hosted by Rachel Riley
ALL WHITE FOR SOME
Manchester United train ahead of their final Premier League match... but has Paul Pogba forgotten his boots?
Sacrifice
Man City ready to offload Kelechi Iheanacho to fund mega-move for Arsenal superstar Alexis Sanchez
Do no Ron
Inter Milan's financial power now so strong they can 'comfortably' bid for Cristiano Ronaldo, claims club director
'i felt embarrassed for the club'
Arsenal legend Tony Adams on his shock at 'disrespectful' final contract offer
Blues in Aub-it
Chelsea want Borussia Dortmund's 37-goal hero Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to replace Diego Costa
wood is drifting
Leeds United striker Chris Wood is a £20m target for a pack of Premier League clubs in summer
ONE MOUR KEEPER
Man United eyeing up Benfica goalkeeper Ederson and Atletico Madrid's Jan Oblak if David de Gea leaves
keep him here
Adrian signs new West Ham deal to ward off interest from Crystal Palace and Everton
Au revoir
Olivier Giroud 'wants to QUIT Arsenal this summer to ensure place in France's 2018 World Cup squad'
Fernando chase
Chelsea and Manchester City want Swansea striker Fernando Llorente as back-up next season
Zoum off to France
Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma set for season-long loan spell with Marseille ready to make move
‘’No importance’
Arsene Wenger dismisses Tony Adams criticism over his coaching abilities at Arsenal
Hungerford Town have impressed in their first season in the National League South as they sit in sixth spotTwitter @HungerfordTown / @MAHalewood
Both sides – in their first season in the division, have appealed for the right to play if they seal their fate in the play-off places and push for promotion.
The National League told BBC Sport, that “an independent panel will judge both appeals.”
Hungerford boss Bobby Wilkinson told BBC Radrio Berkshire: “It’s very confusing what the league are asking everyone to do.
“The league need to come out and clear up what exactly needs to be done. I feel for Poole, as they also don’t know what’s happening.
Southampton star Charlie Austin was a former player of Hungerford Town and Poole Town before his breakthrough at Swindown TownGetty Images
“It’s not fun for the players not knowing our fate. We’ve all done what we need to do to stay in the league, so let us play and whoever makes the play-offs, makes them.”
Poole have been promoted three times in the past five seasons, and sit in fifth spot in the English sixth-tier, while Hungerford are two points behind them in sixth place with two games to play.
Darlington in the National League North have also been blocked from taking part in the play-off for the same reason, and have too appealed against the decision.
Leave a comment