THE National League have outlined their desire to talk to the Football League regarding the recent decision to increase parachute payments for relegated clubs.
The Football League announced last month that relegated League Two clubs would be much better off starting from next season, essentially trebling the current payments.
The money League Two clubs receive for dropping out of the Football League is now set to soar to a total of nearly £750,000 – nearly half a million up from last year’s offering.
Going on those figures, a relegated club would now be awarded £474,000 in its first season and a further £237,000 in their second year back down.
Braintree Town chairman Lee Harding was heavily critical of the plans, saying: “Make no mistake, this is an absolute disaster for Non-League football.”
Other clubs from Non-League’s top division have expressed their concerns and the National League now want to discuss them with those who made the initial decision.
A statement said: “The National League at its monthly board meeting on 14th December discussed the matter of ‘Parachute Payments’ which was recently announced by the Football League.
“Following the amendment to its articles, as of 2016-17, clubs relegated from the Football League will receive 100% of a League Two payment in the first year and 50% in the second year.
‘While recognising that parachute payments are intended to provide a ‘soft landing’ for relegated clubs in order that they may adjust their affairs to a new level of income in a lower division, the board of the National League is mindful of concerns which have been raised by a number of member clubs and generally expressed by supporters at our level of the game.
“At this stage it would be the wish of the National League to meet with the Football League to consider the effects of increased payments and to explore what options may exist to mitigate any impact to balance of the competition.”
