‘WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP FANS INVOLVED’
STOKE City and all football clubs have been dealt a major blow as a spike in Covid-19 cases forced the plan to allow supporters back in to be shelved.
Stoke had been hoping to re-open the bet365 Stadium next month with a much reduced capacity, but the Government has confirmed that stands will stay shut for the foreseeable future.
ANGELA SMITH, who has this week been re-elected to the fans’ council which she chaired last season, has outlined three major issues to tackle in an unprecedented scenario.
HOW TO STREAM BEHIND-CLOSED DOORS MATCHES
Stoke sold more live streaming passes than any other Championship club during the 2019/20 re-start in June and July and there will be a big demand again.
A £50 package had been arranged for season-ticket holders to watch home matches that weren’t covered on their 11game card and midweek away trips – but what happens now is still to be decided. Smith said: “It is the licence holders who decided to charge £10 a match for a live stream on services like ifollow. Clubs got dispensation to offer packages to seasonticket holders, but obviously that needs to be looked at now that season tickets won’t be sold.
“I think what we’ve done (to keep season tickets off sale) is the right thing. If you look at other clubs, Middlesbrough have already sold the best part of 15,000 season tickets and now have to refund people who don’t want to keep it for the sake of the stream package.
“I’m sure that clubs as a collective will be trying to get a good deal for their fans and I know that Stoke will be at the forefront of that. It’s what this club does.
“Of course, the licence holders are in the business of making money but it’s also in their interest to think about the long term, protecting their audience and product. It will be a challenge to find a balance but I hope it can happen.”
HOW TO KEEP FANS ENGAGED WHEN NOT AT GAMES
Stoke have been playing behind closed doors since June. That’s 14 matches and counting so far – and it could be a year, if not more, without supporters in the stands. Smith said: “The club and the council have to work hard to keep fans engaged.
“If you find something else to do on a Saturday at 3pm you might continue. How can we keep supporters involved and active without having them being there?
“I’m one of the people who thought football shouldn’t come back when it did but now, although this isn’t a product that would be my preference, it’s helping keep me sane. “But I’d give anything for the time when we’re back freezing to death in the bet365 stadium, moaning about safety searches taking too long or queuing to get out at the
end – and to watch the team. Until that time, we have to look after the wider family of Stoke City.”
HAVE A PLAN – HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES
Boris Johnson has suggested that the restrictions introduced this week could be in place for six months.
Smith said: “Normality will return at some point and we’ll appreciate what we have a lot more – so we have to make sure that clubs and the sport is still there when that comes about.
“The 72 league clubs are losing £72m a
month. Some people in the game think that up to 20 clubs could be in administration before Christmas.
“The EFL and the Government either need to help clubs with finances or find a plan that we can all move towards. Clubs can’t stay in limbo forever. It’s all very well saying Premier League clubs should help those lower down but to what extent should, can or will they be expected to do that?
“We have to have our own way out, irrespective of when the light emerges in this dark tunnel. We have to be prepared, we have to have a vision.”