Gateshead have 'avoided disaster' after EFL and council agreement on Stadium

Gateshead have avoided a ‘disaster’ by coming to an agreement with the EFL and Gateshead Council that will see the Tynesiders eligible for promotion into League Two this season. That was the verdict of Heed manager Carl Magnay as he reflected on a momentous moment for the National League club that brings a successful conclusion to a long-running saga over their International Stadium home.

Magnay was part of the coaching staff under former manager Rob Elliot last when Gateshead claimed a place in the National League play-offs for only the second time in their history and looked to have taken a big step towards a historic promotion into League Two. However, the club were removed from the play-offs after it emerged they unable to obtain a ten-year security of tenure on the International Stadium that is required to compete in the EFL.

With Gateshead Council looking to appoint a new vendor for leisure facilities in the area, an agreement to resolve the issue remained out of reach and that provoked anger from the Heed supporters, who protested at council offices and at the stadium after the news was confirmed.

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However, the Council have now appointed Greenwich Leisure Limited to run facilities including the International Stadium for the next decade and that agreement could be extended by a further five years. Just hours before that deal was formally signed, Gateshead revealed an agreement had been reached in principle with the EFL and Council that will seem them able to make the step into League Two should they become National League champions or secure promotion via the play-offs this season.

For Magnay, there is no shortage of relief as his short and long-term plans have been boosted by the agreement.

He told Chronicle Live: “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.

“It would be us only offering a platform for them to progress elsewhere and that would have been a really hard sell for us. From the point of view of the current playing squad and any potential signings, it would have been very difficult for the club moving forwards and it’s a huge positive for us to get this sorted.”

Magnay also expressed his delight and gratitude towards the Gateshead hierarchy after their long-standing commitment towards finding an agreement were rewarded. Chairman Neil Pinkerton and several other key figures have continued to work hard to ensure negotiations remained on track and that has meant Magnay’s side can continue their promotion push knowing they can progress if they are successful on the pitch.

“I am delighted for the board and the people that work so hard behind the scenes,” explained the Heed boss. “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.”

The Heed are back in action on Saturday when they travel to Maidenhead United before returning to the International Stadium to face Rochdale next Tuesday night.