Alex fears for stars’ futures and the call clubs may face
A League One PFA representative has raised concerns that over a thousand EFL players could be ‘lost to the game’ this summer.
Bristol Rovers winger Alex Rodman has been one of a number of players in dialogue with the EFL as they attempt to conclude the current campaign on the pitch.
There remains significant doubt over whether this will be the case and it is widely expected that major decisions could be made this week.
Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, it has been general practice that the EFL board meets, with representatives of clubs in each division meeting the following day.
The government’s latest advice on Monday was that they are considering allowing sporting events to return ‘behind closed doors’ from June 1.
However, more important for clubs in the third and fourth tier was the caveat that stadiums are unlikely to be opened until ‘significantly later’.
Many clubs have expressed their opposition to playing without supporters, and EFL Chairman Rick Parry candidly admitted last week that there are doubts over whether a new campaign could even begin in this scenario.
Rodman fears that a delay to the new season will essentially mean that clubs do not look to extend the contracts of players that expire on June 30, or sign players who may become free agents at that time.
“From June 30, I think there's 1,400 players out of contract in the Championship, League One and League
Two,” Rodman told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“We look at the potential of having no fans until possibly Christmas, maybe even into 2021.
“And I think there's a real threat that the new season will be delayed.
“If that's the case, with players running out of contract on June 30, I can't see clubs offering new contracts in that period.
“I don't see how that works financially for players coming into the summer and clubs not knowing where their income is.
“Most clubs get a third of income from matchday revenue and if a club knows they aren't getting fans through the door until potentially next year then I can't see clubs offering contracts to players.
“It definitely won't be the level of contracts they were offering before, and I don't think they'll be offering the same amount of contracts.
“So it's a very scary time for League One and League Two players.”
Another key issue is the possibility of a wage cap being implemented ahead of any new season, something that Parry is strongly in favour of.
Sunderland currently have twelve players who are not contracted with the club past June 30, though three of those are loanees.
Rodman went on to add: “So for me, I think the conversation about League One and League Two needs to move away from the season finishing and how we can combat the issue of players being out of contract for that long and whether clubs can do something with players to work together to fight that.
“It's going to be the most worrying thing for me and it seems to be the most worrying thing for the players I've been speaking to as well.”