Talks taking place over return of fans to matches
CONVERSATIONS are taking place over the return of supporters and Wembley is expected to be used for test events, but no announcement is imminent.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson will set out a road map for how the UK will come out of its current national lockdown on Monday.
Fans were last allowed into sports grounds in December and spectators being welcomed into venues again should become clearer next week.
The Carabao Cup final on April 25 has long been a target for the return of supporters, with the showpiece event at Wembley moved back from its original date of February 28.
At the time, the EFL confirmed the switch had occurred to “give clubs and their fans the best opportunity to attend in person.”
Tentative conversations continue to take place over spectators being allowed into Wembley for the match between Manchester City and Tottenham, but nothing has been determined over whether it will definitely be a test event for the return of supporters. The FA Cup final on May 15 is another potential pilot event and both fixtures could act as a test event for the new Olympic Steps at the 90,000-seater stadium.
Work to replace the pedestrian walk which marks the approach to Wembley started in 2020 and a match at limited capacity will be required to test the completed work.
If test events with fans for the Carabao Cup and FA Cup finals were a success, it would open the door for supporters to attend fixtures at this summer’s European Championships.
Other major sporting events in the UK later this year are also being earmarked to entertain spectators and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport remain committed to the return of fans with mass testing and the success of the vaccine rollout adding to a growing optimism that fans could be back in sporting venues soon.
However, much of the sporting world is still dealing with a high degree of uncertainty about the future and Alex Petherham, cochairman of National League South side Gloucester City, fears that Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Chorley could have been the club’s last home game of the season.
He has admitted that he is “not overly positive” that the National League North season will continue.
Clubs are voting on proposals put forward by the National League, deciding whether to continue the campaign or to declare it null and void.
City and Saturday’s opponents Chorley are among those who want to play on, with the game at New Meadow Park the only one in the league to go ahead last weekend.
Paul Groves’ side are due to go to Kettering on Saturday, followed by a home game with Gateshead, but neither of those clubs want to play on.
“I generally feel that the league will get pulled. It’s not looking overly positive,” said Petherham. “Hereford have said they have voted for null and void so that’s another nail in the coffin. I don’t think Gateshead will travel. They wouldn’t travel this weekend to Fylde so on the basis of that I can’t see them travelling six and a half hours to play us. It feels like it could have been our last home game of the season.”
Petheram has been very vocal about his wish to play on and conclude the season on the field, with City holding a seven-point lead at the top of National League North.
Clubs have been having meetings with Sport England over grant aid and are expected to find out next week if they have been successful.
The 66 National League clubs (including Bath City and Chippenham Town in National League South and Yeovil Town in the National League) were given 28 days - until February 28 - to decide their stance on the future of the leagues, but the decision could be made sooner. Some clubs have already made big decisions - Maidstone United, of National League South, have said they will furlough all contracted players and, if the league continues, say they will use non-contract and loan players to fulfil games, while Kent neighbours and National League side Dover Athletic confirmed that all management, players, and staff have been furloughed “to safeguard the club’s long-term future” and they say they will not play any more games “until appropriate funding is made available.”
The postponed League One fixture between Bristol Rovers and Swindon Town has now been rearranged to take place on Tuesday March 23 (7pm). It was due to have taken place on Saturday, but was not played after the referee ruled parts of the Memorial Stadium pitch were frozen and unplayable.