VALIANTS NAME PREFERRED DATE FOR NEW CAMPAIGN
PORT Vale have told the EFL they are ready to start the new League Two season on September 12.
The league has canvassed clubs about whether that date or August 29 is acceptable, or whether clubs don’t feel they can start the campaign.
Vale are hoping fans will be allowed back by September and have told the league they are willing to play.
Chief executive Colin Garlick says September 12 is more popular than August 29 with clubs, but that doesn’t mean the season will definitely begin then.
Some clubs would struggle financially to bring players and staff off furlough before the end of the government scheme in October. Others may need a guarantee about fans’ returning, but that will depend on government guidelines.
Garlick said: “All the clubs had a questionnaire to complete last week that had to be in by Friday. They were specifically looking at two possible start dates - and I stress these are only possible dates.
“They are August 29 or September 12. The reason September 5 wasn’t put in there is because that is an international week. That’s more applicable to Championship and Premier League clubs, but it does affect League One and Two.
“We got the impression that a lot of League Two clubs in particular were focusing more on September 12 than August 29.
“It’s fair to say there are still concerns about those dates because there are clubs that want to know whether supporters are going to be allowed into those games.
“We are seeing relaxations all the time and you want an up to date situation. But there are clubs that are concerned because, without the paying public coming through the doors it is very difficult for them financially to actually resume the season.
“You have to take players off furlough, pay for testing, for additional sanitation methods and different operational methods that are probably more costly. That is all okay but if there is nothing coming in then it is very difficult for those clubs, so there is still that big question over the start date and when the supporters are going to be in.
“We need to look at that because there are clubs out there who are going to need financial help.
“We are fortunate we have our owners, but that is not a bottomless pit. Our business is live football in the stadium, we wouldn’t have 20,000 seats if it was all about streaming.
“So, we are all keen to get going as quickly as we can but the circumstances have to be safe and financially viable.”
A September 12 start would probably mean players recalled for pre-season training in early August.
Garlick added: “They are definitely looking at those dates and I think there is a real hope that supporters are going to be allowed in. They have got contingency plans for streaming and looking at those options, whether season ticket holders get it free of charge, whether it is home games, away games, whether there is part-admittance. All of these things are still ongoing that we are not sure about at the moment. That does make it difficult for planning.
“We have indicated that we would go for September 12 but we would dearly love to have supporters in, of course we would, that is much our preferred method.
“We are a club that has a capacity of 20,000 and we believe we can probably get protocols in place with the help and support and cooperation of our supporters.
“It would be strange but with everybody’s cooperation I do think it is a possibility.”
So, Vale would start on September 12 without fans if they had to, but would much prefer to have supporters in the ground.
Garlick added: “Absolutely. If we are going to play a meaningful season we are going to have to kick it off sooner rather than later.
“The proposal for September 12 involved 11 midweeks anyway with the fixture programme, and takes you through to May 8. Then there are the play-offs.
“Then on the back of that there are the Euros that should have taken place this summer. So, to have a season really you haven’t really got many midweeks left because clubs have cup runs, you have weather issues at different times, and so it really becomes difficult to try to complete a season if you are going beyond September 12.”