We can’t risk losing these vital institutions

THE Government needs a plan for football or we’ll lose much-loved clubs because of Covid 19.

The failure on track and trace has consequences. It is a block in the road for everyone but especially for football clubs.

The Government has had months to get this right so supporters could get back to grounds and many warned this crisis was coming.

This is why it is time for supporters – and all those involved in the game – to make their voices heard: the current situation is not acceptable.

Ask Wigan Athletic supporters. Ask people in Macclesfield. Or Bury.

We cannot allow clubs outside the Premier League to get washed down the drain.

The financial crisis many clubs are facing should worry us all. Many stepped in when the going got tough to serve their local communities – clubs like Tranmere Rovers FC and Darlington FC supported vulnerable fans through lockdown. Stockport County FC raised £75K for the NHS. We cannot afford to lose the community care, family connections and friendships, which go way beyond the play on the pitch. These are institutions at the heart of our community.

As we come out of this crisis, we will need to bring communities together. Losing our football clubs will make that even harder.

Sports rightly govern themselves but the Government can and should provide leadership.

The Tories agree – that’s why they have promised to make sure football starts delivering for the millions of fans it serves via a government review. The time for a plan is now.

We need everyone to work together and I’m more than happy to work with Tories and everyone in football on this. Clubs need to know what’s happening so they can survive.