Financial impact on clubs

League and club leaders spoken to late last week were taking things “day to day” as containment measures for coronavirus are frequently upgraded.

A statement by Australia’s chief medical officer Brendan Murphy last Wednesday that he expected “disruptive and intrusive measures” to continue for at least six months was a strong pointer to a possible cancellation of country football for the year.

Clubs have overheads to meet – insurance of facilities and, possibly, players whether or not games go ahead and ground rental charges unless their local government councils waive them.

Most player payment contracts are based on a per match fee but there are some different and varying arrangements for coaches that have been planning and conducting training sessions since as early as November.

The clubs agree that for practical as well as financial reasons country football cannot proceed if games were permitted but without spectators.

Most also believe that sponsorships will be down.

Not just because the season will be truncated at best, or cancelled at worst, but concerns by local businesses of their viability under the current emergency measures.

Even if competitions do get underway at some stage club officials believe attendances, and therefore revenues, will be down with many people continuing to be wary of illness and others avoiding discretionary spending due to the possibility of losing employment or working reduced hours.

Ellinbank and District Football League clubs met last Wednesday night and committed to adhering to the advice of Federal and State health authorities.

President Roger Gwynne said if games were given the go-ahead from early May the season would be reduce to nine rounds of matches plus finals.

If a there was a further delay in a start date and fewer than six rounds could be completed before finals the season would be abandoned, he said.