National League clubs ‘fear Brian Barwick’s exit will impact chances of getting more bailout money’

The National League has been thrown into a crisis with fears the Government might be reluctant to provide any future bailout money once Brian Barwick quits as chairman, according to The Times.

Former Football Association chief executive Barwick is set to meet with the board on Thursday, after which there is due to be an announcement that he will be stepping down at the end of the season.

The National League, who were given a £10million rescue package by the Government last November, are anxious that Barwick’s departure could impact whether or not they receive further financial help.   

Brian Barwick is set to announce he will be quitting as the National League chairman

The Times claim there are a number of clubs who are now fearing for their future amid concerns the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport will stick with the plan of only offering loans to clubs going forward – which many have chosen to reject for fear of accruing more debt – instead of a centrally-funded grant support.

Speaking to The Times today about his decision to quit, Barwick said: ‘The last 12 months have been the most difficult in my career. I’ve been trying my very best, as has everyone else, to get through this crisis. It blew us out of the water. There will be some who think we’ve done a good job and some who don’t.

‘I decided over Christmas that it was time for me to step down. I’m 67 in June and I’ve been around sport and sports broadcasting since 1979. I formally told the board at our February meeting. They were surprised and very supportive, and they’d love me to stick around.

‘But I just thought, you know what, it is the right time. I was determined out of a sense of duty to see this season through. I will stay until the end of the season. I think that’s the right thing to do. It’s morally right that they can prepare for the future.’ 

Some non-League clubs now fear the Government won’t provide anymore bailout money

The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport chief Oliver Dowden has proposed offering loans to clubs going forward – but some have rejected them, for fear of accruing more debt

Barwick, who has held the position since 2015, caused a major commotion last year when the board decided its own formula on how the £10million Government grant would be distributed, as opposed to the clubs’ lost gate receipts – leaving some with hundreds of thousands of pounds less than they were expecting and prompting an independent review. 

The board also made the controversial decision earlier this year to bring the National League North and South seasons to a premature end and declare it null and void, while the National League would continue.

There had been talk of a possible vote of no confidence in the board in recent months after they also drew criticism for handing out fines to clubs. 

National League South side Dulwich Hamlet had to pay £8,000 for not being able to fulfill fixtures. They were also given an eight-point suspended points deduction while Dover were fined £40,000.

The Government provided a £10m rescue deal for National League clubs back in November