LEAGUE CHIEFS MUST BACK US

FUMING Dorking Wanderers owner Marc White has blasted the National League over their plans to scrap the Step 2 play-offs.

- John Lyons

Wanderers were in the final playoff berth in National League South when the season came to a sudden halt in mid-March.

Ever since they have been keeping their fingers crossed the play-offs would still take place. But on the eve of a crucial clubs’ meeting on Thursday, the fast-climbing Surrey outfit were informed Step 2 play-offs would not be possible because of government guidance over ‘elite’ sport.

In essence, the National League would be able to hold their top-flight playoffs because it was a fulltime league, but the largely part-time North and South divisions would have to go without.

In government guidance, an ‘elite athlete’ is classified as ‘an individual who derives a living from competing in a sport’.

Disparity

But White believes this is flimsy evidence for the National League to effectively rule out their Step 2 play-offs.

The Wanderers manager-chairman told The NLP: “For starters, some of the clubs in the North and South, like York City and Havant & Waterlooville, are full-time.