Posh chairman demands financial clarity before vote

Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony has demanded more financial clarity ahead of Monday’s (June 1) crunch League One vote.

MacAnthony has not given up hope of persuading rival clubs to support his efforts to play out the 2019-20 season to a finish.

And he insists a true financial picture of the cost to finish the campaign needs to be sent to all the clubs.

MacAnthony said: “I have a lot of respect for Rick Parry (EFL chairman), but I disagree with some of the EFL actions.

“It wasn’t fair to drop in, just before the last League One conference call, that testing for coronavirus could cost each club between £120k and £140k. That understandably frightened some clubs.

“Paul Scally (Gillingham chairman) came up with a good suggestion that the PFA could pay for the tests.

“They are sitting on £50 million and it’s their members who will be seeking other professions at the end of this if football does not return soon.

“This £500k cost for each club to complete the season that’s being bandied about is also wrong.

“We could complete the season for between £200k to £300k with testing, putting on the games and bringing players out of furlough and not be liable for some of the refunds that are coming our way to season ticket holders, to Sky and to sponsors.

“If clubs can’t afford that sort of money I’m not sure what they’re doing in competitive football.

“They’ve probably saved a lot of money by not playing these last couple of months especially if they’ve furloughed their staff.

“They’d also benefit from the surge of interest in passionate fans who will buy their merchandise and pay to watch the games on iFollow.

“Player contracts are not a problem as we’ve established we can extend them to the end of July. Before we have this vote we have asked for costings from the EFL on playing the season and on curtailing it.

“So far we have had no specific numbers and that disappoints me.

“We can still work out a compromise and reduce the potential cost if we know the true financial numbers, but we need to know the numbers before we vote.

“I’m hoping some of those figures might sway some clubs currently sitting on the fence into continuing the season.

“This is not a battle against Wycombe or Rotherham or Coventry, but it is a battle against unfair procedures and against setting dangerous precedents for the future.

“If games are still being played behind closed doors in September and October will League One clubs vote again not to play?

“If they did it would be catastrophic for our industry.”

Mark Beevers (right) in action for Posh