...NO CASH FROM CHAMPIONSHIP CLUB LUTON TO A COACH BUSINESS TO A PUB LANDLADY, THE SHUTDOWN WILL HIT EVERY ASPECT OF SPORTING LANDSCAPE It could cost £150,000 Premier League for us to park the buses must help us out

IT IS not just football clubs that will be badly affected by the coronavirus suspension.

Mark Anderson runs a luxury coach company that has 10-15 coaches ferrying teams to matches on an average weekend and another six carrying supporters. Anderson also has coaches which take rugby union and league teams – and the sporting shutdown has come as a real blow to his firm. “We stand to lose at least £150,000 over this period – and if it goes on any longer, which is likely, that figure will rise,” he said. “This week we would have had coaches taking AFC Wimbledon to Doncaster and Leyton Orient to Bradford – as well as their fans. All have been cancelled.

“As soon as the announcement was made, all our coaches returned to the garages. We are going to be quite considerably out of pocket.

“You cannot insure against this kind of thing and you cannot get the moment back.

“Usually with postponements in football the games are rearranged for another midweek. But there is no guarantee of that happening.

“I have a feeling that football will be suspended in this country for quite a lot longer than up to April 3 or 4.

“As a coach company we have followed all the protocols, detoxing our vehicles every evening and providing hand gels.

“If the season does carry on until June or July we would welcome that, because right now the tourism side of the business has been decimated.

“But we are also one of the selected operators for Euro 2020 in this country and there is talk now of that tournament being delayed.

“I think the decision to suspend football was the right one because the health of the nation has to come first.

“But companies like ours are already in the mire and looking for help from the Government.”