The EFL has followed the Premier League by suspending all professional football until at least the beginning of April.
This decision is sensible in my opinion given the rapid spread of COVID-19 but it has clear & obvious serious ramifications for clubs in League’s One & Two, some of whom are already teetering on the brink of financial ruin.
How should the 2019/20 season be concluded?
How can struggling EFL Clubs survive without matchday income & what can be done to help them?
On the first point of how do we conclude the season, experts believe that the peak of coronavirus cases will come in May/June so why not complete the season in July/August & have a November/July 2020/21 season? If anything, we’d get some better weather & more enjoyable matchday experiences. We can’t halt the season now & promote/relegate the clubs already in the relevant places, that wouldn’t be fair.
On the second point of how do struggling clubs survive, pressure HAS to be brought on the Premier League & associated broadcasters who have injected billions into the upper echelons of English football to show some solidarity & compassion to their fellow professional clubs. This pressure I speak of is essential as the EPL owners & broadcast bosses will definitely not act of their own volition, however, going forward a fund should be set up which can be used to support clubs in crisis situations such as this one. It really is new territory as no one has ever experienced anything quite like this before. Of course another option would be to use prize money, that may not be needed anyway, to help clubs stay afloat through this uncertain period.
I only hope with all my heart as a passionate lower league football fan that Friday 13th March 2020 isn’t the day the much-loved English football pyramid started to die. Be ready to mobilise, lobby & keep the pressure on because we’ll have a hell of a job getting the “elite” clubs , mainstream media & broadcasters to play ball.
words Ian Bradley