Charlie signs letter to government with administration warning
Sunderland co-owner Charlie Methven is one of a number of signatories on a powerful letter sent to government – warning of the collapse of the league system and clubs entering administration if financial help is not forthcoming.
And they say that the government will have to put their money where their mouth is when it comes to helping the sporting industry – rather than simply pointing the finger at the Premier League.
Methven is one of several high-profile names to put his name to the letter that has been sent to culture secretary Oliver Dowden. Fellow signatories include former Football Association chairmen Greg Dyke and Lord Triesman and pundit Robbie Savage. And in the strongly-worded letter, the individuals have called upon the government to provide financial support to football clubs – who are now facing several months without guaranteed income as supporters remain unable to attend fixtures, plunging many into uncertain times.
Indeed, the letter states that a number of EFL and National League clubs are already preparing to ‘cease playing... and put their business into administration.’
In the letter, the group write: "Without any plans being made to rescue football clubs, many in the EFL and others in the National League as well, are now actively preparing to make all but essen
tial staff redundant, cease p l ay i n g , c l o s e d ow n th ei r youth academies and community foundations, and put their business into administration.
"This could lead not only to the failure of many historic community clubs, but the collapse of the national league structure that we have known for over 100 years."
"These are decisions that
will be made in the coming weeks, with many clubs unable to meet their payroll obligations for next month."
“We would ask that the government now make clear what financial support it's prepared to give before it is too late,” they continue.
"In order for clubs to sustain themselves over the winter and keep playing, they would need to be compensated for the loss of match ticket sales. There is still time to act, but not long left."
There have also been calls for the Premier League to provide financial support, but the group say the onus cannot be purely placed on the top flight.
"The absence of this income is not a result of their actions, but the policies that have been put in place by the government," they say.
"It cannot be the Premier League's sole responsibility to sort out issues arising from government policy.
"The government itself needs to take responsibility or many already embattled towns - often in areas of the country which have suffered many hardships in recent decades - will lose their last focal point."
Referencing the $1.5billion financial package given to arts and cultural organisations in May, the group say: “We believe that football, like other well-loved professional sports in this country, is also a cultural activity.”
Speaking at the weekend, Dowden said he was ‘hopeful’ that the Premier League would announce a package to support clubs this week.