Gateshead F.C have had their dreams snatched away from them and have been barred from taking part in the National League play-offs after failing to meet the entry criteria for membership of the English Football League.
The club failed to secure a "10-year security of tenure" from Labour controlled Gateshead Council at the International Stadium, where they have played since 1971-72, by 1 March. The stadium is under the councils portfolio of crisis hit leisure services. Gateshead Council closed Birtley Swimming Centre and Gateshead Leisure Centre in July last year.
North East Mayoral Candidate Kim McGuiness has been quick to point the blame at English Football League rules.
Conservative candidate for North East Mayor and Northumberland Council said, "Labour run Gateshead Council have stopped the club having any chance of promotion to the football league. This is the same Labour Party Kim McGuinness is asking people to vote for on May 2nd. Be in no doubt that Kim McGuinness and the Labour Party do not have the future of the club at heart.
Labour will try and lay the blame on the Government instead of their own incompetence. Yet in Conservative controlled neighbouring Northumberland we've built new leisure centres which are booming, including Berwick in which has a much smaller population than Gateshead."
Since the Conservative Party took control of Northumberland County Council in 2017 there has been investment in leisure services totalling just over £73m.
- Morpeth - £21.46m (New build) 2023
- Berwick - £23.30m (New build) 2022
- Ponteland - £20m (New build) 2020
- Blyth - £5.94 million (major upgrade) 2021
- Newbiggin - £2.39m (major upgrade) 2021
