Expert warns hiatus will hit league teams financially
League, which are supported by lucrative broadcasting deals. Maguire, a senior teacher in accountancy at the University of Liverpool's Management School and author of 'The Price of Football: The Finance and Economics of the Beautiful Game', fears a lack of money through the turnstiles could have major implications down the line.
"If matches are postponed rather than the season cancelled, then what we are dealing with is a cash-flow issue rather than anything else. Ultimatelytheclubswillgetnearly all of that money back when the matches are rescheduled," Maguire said.
"I certainly do not see any problems as far as the Premier League is concerned. Overall Premier League clubs get 13 per cent of their income from matchday, so they should be able to absorb those shocks.
"I don't think they would be under any more strain than they would be at this stage of the season where their preoccupation would be avoiding relegation, because that is a fargreaterfinancialshockthan anything to do with COVID-19. However, when we drop into the EFL things start to become more precarious.
"If you take a look at those clubs who are not in receipt of parachute payments in the Championship, some 31 per cent of their income is from matchday.Whenyoudropinto League One and Two, broadly it is around a third of money whichiscomingfromthefans.
"Clubs have probably got five or six home matches remaining this season, so you are probably looking at a minimum of £150,000 in gate receipts for clubs at the rear end of League Two, then upwards tosortof£700,000or£800,000 for clubs who are pressing for promotion in League One.
"Can they survive? Some of them are in a strong position and some aren't.
"This season we have already seen Macclesfield and Southend fail to pay wages in February. It is difficult to see how they are going to pay their wagesinMarchiftheyhavegot no income being generated.
"All of the TV money has already been received for this year,sponsorswillalreadyhave paid up in advance, so they are therefore reliant upon matchdayincomeasameansofkeeping the wolf from the door."
Maguire is in no doubt "the trickle trickle down effect will be significant".
He said: "At the stadium you have lots of people working there who are reliant upon a four-hour shift once a fortnight,andthatisthedifference betweenpayingsomebillsand not paying some bills.
"While the matches might be rescheduled, there is that two-to-threemonthcash-flow issue. I don't know how that's going to be addressed. I can't see the banks reaching out to peopletogivethememergency overdrafts and things.”