... AND HOW THE WORLD OF FOOTBALL REACTED

JOEY BARTON (FLEETWOOD MANAGER, below)

THERE is an Armageddon about to happen here. We have seen Macclesfield go, Bury went last year and we have seen Wigan in a tight spot.

There are going to be a lot of clubs that, if we don’t have fans back, are going to be severely hampered, if not forced to the wall. Our club is at the centre of the community.

You have people who have worked tirelessly with no financial reward because they care deeply. People are getting discarded and made redundant and clubs are being closed. That is just wrong.

SEAN DYCHE (BURNLEY MANAGER)

IF THE Premier League can do their bit to enhance the chances of others surviving, possibly they’ll step in.

But if you’re going to apply that rule of thumb, does that mean every incredibly successful hedgefund manager is going to filter it down to those not so successful? Are the restaurants and bars going to filter it down? You can’t just measure football on its own. If you apply it to football, you have to apply it across the country.

LIAM SCULLY (LINCOLN CITY CHIEF EXECUTIVE)

IT’S one of the biggest games in the club’s history ( hosting Liverpool in the Carabao Cup tomorrow), and not to have fans is desperately disappointing. I fear there are going to be casualties. As current custodians of the football clubs, we’re all petrified.

NICOLA PALIOS (TRANMERE ROVERS VICE-CHAIR)

A LOT of clubs were already having financial difficulties before this pandemic and sadly this may tip some of them over the edge. If a rescue fund isn’t forthcoming, you’ll see a devastating impact in terms of loss of clubs and jobs.

ROBBIE COWLING (COLCHESTER UNITED OWNER)

THERE seems to be a parallel universe where Tottenham sign a player on loan (Gareth Bale) who is paid more in a week than it would take to keep Macclesfield alive. Communities are losing their clubs. It’s devastating.