Heed have agreement to make promotion a reality

Gateshead FC have reached an agreement with the EFL and Gateshead Council which will ensure promotion for the National League after they controversially missed out last season.

The Heed were denied promotion to the Football League last season after discovering the International Stadium did not have the ten-year security of tenure required for a place in the fourth tier of the English football pyramid, on the eve of their last game of the season.

The club had secured a play-off place in the National League under former manager Rob Elliot but they were unable to compete in the final round of knock-out matches after it was revealed Gateshead Council’s search for a new vendor for leisure facilities in the area meant they were unable to grant the necessary licence for Tynesiders to meet the EFL’s strict criteria.

The news was met by anger and frustration from the club’s supporters, and board, but now agreements have been reached ‘in principle’ with the EFL and the council which are expected to be signed and finalised on Tuesday when they entertain former league side Rochdale at the International Stadium.

Gateshead, who travel to Maidenhead United tomorrow, have been in negotiations for months and although the on-going uncertainty has overshadowed their start to this season, they are currently in a play-off position in fifth, under Elliot’s successor Carl Magnay.

And the new boss, a former Heed player who took over from Elliot in October when he left for Crawley Town, and also worked on the coaching staff under Elliot’s predecessor Mike Williamson, believes they have avoided a ‘disaster’.

Magnet said: “If it didn’t go through it would have been a disaster, there’s no sugar coating that, it would have been a disaster. 

“The players here would have become disillusioned and then it becomes difficult to recruit the quality of player we want because we’d have nothing to offer them in terms of targets or anything tangible to work towards.

“I’m delighted for the board and the people that work so hard behind the scenes. There was a lot of finger pointing and frustration when the initial decision was taken - but the club have followed all of the right processes to resolve this situation.

“When you look deeper into the situation, with everything that unfolded, the club has been the victim of politics really, not going too far into it but we impacted by budget cuts from central government and that filtered down so it’s huge credit for the club and I’m delighted for those involved.

“The club have tried to do everything right and it’s a great day for them. They deserve to be recognised for what they have done.”

News emerged last week that Gateshead Council are set to appoint a new vendor for their leisure facilities across the area.

Council leader Martin Gannon said: "It's an exciting time for Gateshead as we work towards partnering with an organisation who has a strong track record of delivering modern and efficient leisure services across the country.

“As part of a rigorous tendering process, this particular provider has set out how they'll improve our facilities and ensure that they can continue to support the health and wellbeing of our communities. 

“Thanks to their expertise and investment, the partnership is expected to result in significant savings for the council whilst also offering a better experience for leisure centre visitors."

In their own statement released on Monday, the Tynesiders moved to quell any fears about their promotion ambitions being sidetracked by matters out of their hands again.

The statement read: “Despite the council having agreed in principle to the procurement of an external operator being in place to operate its leisure facilities across the borough, including Gateshead International Stadium, this does affect the proposed licence between the council and the club.

“Following the situation between Gateshead FC (licensee) and Gateshead Council (landlord) at the end of the 2023-24 season in relation to the non-granting of a 10-year licence between the parties, which ultimately resulted in the club being unable to participate in the National League play-offs, the parties have been in negotiations to ensure the same would not happen going forward.

“Negotiations have been concluded between the EFL and the club whereby the form of wording agreeable to the EFL has now been reached.

“This has now been agreed in principle with the council and we expect this to be signed off at cabinet, this is a letter of guarantee which will confirm that should that should Gateshead Football Club be in a position to be promoted to the EFL, the council will grant the necessary licence to facilitate such, and which will fulfil the EFL’s entry criteria.”

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