Struber joins calls for behind-closed-doors games
BARNSLEY HEAD coach Gerhard Struber admits that he does not expect football to recommence until June at the earliest.
Struber headed back to his native Austria following the EFL’s decision to suspend the season amid the coronavirus crisis and is not envisaging a return to England in the near future.
Football is currently on hold in this country until at least April 30, but the Austrian does not think games will realistically begin again until the summer.
He said: “I think it is not realistic (April 30) and my feeling is that we need one more time. Maybe we can start in June and I hope so. April or May, I think there is no chance for football.
“After this, we can have more focus for professional football. We are role models in handling the situation and it’s our duty and responsibility and many people will look at sports and what football does in the next few weeks.
“Maybe, we will finish the season in August.”
Meanwhile, Struber is supporting calls to finish the season behind closed doors while streaming games to fans – and believes it represents the only realistic way of ensuring that the 2019-20 campaign reaches a full conclusion. “I think it is a very good idea and the responsibility for our TV partners,” he said.
“It is a good idea for the supporters to have a chance to watch football from the outside and it is a good chance for normal life to start for people in the UK; stream the games and watch football.”
Across the country, many clubs are placing non-playing staff on furlough as they wrestle with the economic implications of Covid-19, with significant pressure also being placed on playing and coaching staff at clubs to also take wage cuts or deferrals to ease the game’s growing financial crisis.
Struber expects that will become a reality for his staff and players in the weeks ahead as clubs continue to take cost-cutting measures to support their business.
The former Wolfsberger AC head coach added: “When we don’t play a game in the next few months, it is clear we must speak together on what we can do so that our club is safe in the future.
“Every employer, player and member in the staff has the responsibility to help the club and it is a duty for me and everyone in the club to help the club have a future.”