JOY FOR SOME, TIERS FOR THE REST

Winners and losers as (some) fans get ready to return

THERE was never going to be a way of pleasing everyone.

In fact, you always knew that it was going to end in ‘ tiers’ for different clubs across the country.

For some, those tiers will go to cheers as fans are allowed back, but for others they will be real tears as the financial plight of no supporters hits the lower leagues with the teams in Tier Three.

At least some fans are allowed back into football stadiums from next week.

Sadly, no clubs are in Tier One, so the maximum number is 2,000 supporters – and the terraces at some grounds wi l l remain completely empty. Fans are not just the lifeblood of football – they are the atmosphere, the buzz, the extra support for the players when they are zapped of energy.

Equally, outside of the top two divisions, fans are the only way some clubs can survive.

The money through the turnstiles, the cash from the merchandise.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer complained about Old Trafford missing fans more than most because back in Fergie’s glory days they would talk about the Manchester United supporters sucking the ball into the net.

Now, United can play away with fans cheering the home team – as they will tomorrow week when they visit West Ham – but play at their own ground in an eerily silent stadium the week after. Arsenal will be the first Premier League team to welcome back fans for their Europa League tie with Rapid Vienna on Thursday, while the Hammers will be the first to have spectators at a Premier League game when they entertain United on December 5.

That will be the fourth match of next week’s Premier League fixtures, kicking off at 5.30pm on the Saturday.

But the three games which precede it – Aston Villa against Newcastle on the Friday, ahead of Burnley versus Everton and Manchester City taking on Fulham on the Saturday – are all in Tier Three. No fans.

Brighton manager Graham Potter, whose side entertain Southampton on Monday week, believes in the positive of having fans back in the Premier League.

Potter said: “You can look at it two ways; of course it’s an advantage, but at the moment rather than look at whether a team has a small advantage or not, you’ve got to look at the bigger picture and see that it’s great news supporters are going to be back in stadiums.

“Rather than zooming into the advantages or disadvantages, hopefully it’s the start of having supporters back and getting back to full stadiums.”

Potter – and Chelsea’s Frank Lampard – were the last Premi er League managers to be part of a crowd when Brighton and the Blues shared a 1-1 draw in a friendly at the Amex on August 29 in a test event in front of 2,500 fans. It was a trial by the Government for the return of supporters.

Potter ( right) ht) said yesterday: ay: “I am pretty sure that t everyone will come with an enthusiasm to o support the team because use of what we have all been en through.

“There will be fantastic atmospheres, s, quite emotional as well as we have come through rough a lot. Hopefully, we can get back to normality soon. oon.

“I have really ally missed the fans, at first it was something you u had to do, a bit of a novelty y and you had to get your head ad around it.

“But then as time goes on, you miss fans ns so much, because through gh good or bad the fans are incredibly important.”