Lowe not expecting a bail out from EPL

PLYMOUTH Argyle manager Ryan Lowe does not expect a multi-million pound bailout of cashstarved EFL clubs by the Premier League.

There has been a lot of talk about ways of supporting struggling clubs, who are playing behind closed doors games, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bailouts from either the Premier League and/or the UK Government have been suggested by some.

Lowe does not believe either is likely. Instead, he has called for fans to be allowed back inside grounds.

Lowe said: “They (the Premier League) are under no obligation to do so, and why would they? They have still got big wage bills themselves.

“It’s tough isn’t it because you might get 10 clubs saying that they are going out of business when really they are not, they just need funding.

“You might get 40 clubs saying that they are okay for money but at the end of the season they could go.”

Of more concern to Lowe was getting fans inside grounds again so EFL clubs could generate some more money.

Lowe said: “This ground (Home Park) is the safest place you will step into. We come into work every day knowing it’s safe.

“We can’t expect the Premier League to give us £1 million, or £2m, or any clubs any money.

“Yeah, they are spending fortunes on players but that’s their business.

“A League One or League Two club wouldn’t give the local nonLeague club £200,000-£300,000 for nothing would they? It’s part and parcel of football.

“Can the Premier League overall come to a conclusion where they want to put some money in a pot? Can the PFA (Professional Footballers’ Association) help out with the player testing and stuff?

“Yeah, the PFA possibly can because they are sitting on a bag of money. I think they have got to help their peers out if that’s the case.”

The Pilgrims boss added: “I don’t want to see any clubs go to the wall, certainly not.”

There have been calls on the government to come up with a rescue package for clubs in the EFL and the National League but, again, the Argyle manager does not expect to see that.

Lowe said: “The government are worried about the virus and the economy, and everything else that goes with it aren’t they?

“They are not worried about football clubs, hence why they have put the fans away.

“If they were worried about the football clubs they would have let the fans come in this weekend, but unfortunately they are not.”

Argyle, as a club, are very fortunate to have had the financial backing of owner Simon Hallett.

Despite that, the Pilgrims are not immune from the huge financial challenges that clubs up and down the country are dealing with.

Lowe said: “We can’t expect Simon to just keep putting money into the football club when there is no income.

“We certainly need the income. I know the club will try and do stuff with the sponsors, the food (catering) and everything else to get people in and make money.

“There is the club shop and season tickets. I get all that, we are trying to generate as much money as we possibly can, but there has certainly got to be a give somewhere.

“Whether the Premier League send some money down. Can I see it? No.

“Whether the government say you are allowed a certain amount of fans in. Yeah, I think that’s the biggest out them all.

“If the government say you are allowed a certain amount in, and all the protocols are right, why not?”