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Tonbridge Angels stop training following suspension of National League South

Tonbridge have put training on hold following the suspension of National League South.

Play has been halted - initially for two weeks - amid uncertainty over funding for the second half of the season.

Tonbridge manager Steve McKimm Picture: Dave Couldridge
Tonbridge manager Steve McKimm Picture: Dave Couldridge

The National League were under the impression that a second round of grants would be available to complete the season.

But the government said that was never the case, instead offering £11m in loans from the Sports Winter Survival Package, to help clubs through the Covid pandemic.

With no appetite among clubs to take out loans, and the National League withdrawing their offer to borrow the money and issue grants, the future is unclear.

Tonbridge won’t be training until they know exactly what is happening.

“I don’t know what to make of it,” said Angels boss Steve McKimm, whose side are provisionally due to host Hampton on February 6.

“I don’t know what to believe, I don’t know what’s true.

“All I do know is we aren’t playing football and the league are trying to get grants rather than loans.

“I think maybe the league thought the virus wouldn’t be as bad as it is now and there would be fans back in after the first three months of the season.

“I don’t want to get drawn into it because, whatever you say, someone will pick it up and twist it.

“We’ve just got to take it day by day and see what happens. Some teams are still playing and still training - we’re not doing any of it.

“It’s going to be a shock to the system when we’re back but it’s one of those. It could be two weeks, it could be another two weeks and then another two weeks, we just don’t know.

“The club can’t pay for a training venue, because we’ve no money coming in. It’s a strange situation.

“It’s a nightmare as a manager because you don’t know whether you’re coming or going, but we can’t change it.”

Angels supported a suspension following a meeting of clubs last Wednesday to discuss the way forward.

The league initially planned to play the following Saturday and Tuesday games but instead called a halt on Friday.

“Every club is run differently and we can only speak for ourselves,” said McKimm.

“If there’s no revenue coming through the gates you can’t pay the players, and if there’s no grants you can’t pay the players. It’s a no-win situation.”

Read more: The latest sports news in Kent

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