HELP NOW NEEDED IN BATTLE FOR SURVIVAL
I WAS interested to read the thoughts of Farnborough manager Spencer Day in last week’s NLP regarding the problems we may be facing next season. His views were very much in line with my own and these have hardened further as each week goes by.
So much thought and concern about the early termination of the 2019/20 season has been at the forefront of the discussions to date, with arguments over voiding the season rather than revising league tables on a points per game basis with the possibility of promotion and relegation, together with the resulting financial consequences for clubs, that looking to the future seems to have been overlooked.
It has been clear for some time that when the lockdown is eased and hopefully removed altogether the ‘new normal’ will not be the same as the ‘old normal’. This has been said many times by the advisors to the Government and also by the World Health Organisation.
Whilst it has been difficult to interpret the various possible ways forward, we now have a very clear statement from the Chief Medical Officer that some form of social distancing is here to stay for a considerable time. I cannot see how this can be compatible with supporters watching a football match – and visiting the bar would certainly be a non-starter.
Non-League cannot be played behind closed doors even if Premier League games can, and whose clubs benefit from substantial support from television money and wealthy owners (though player wages would need to be substantially reduced).
In view of the vast differences in finances between
Premier League and NonLeague levels, there is an urgent need for those at the highest level and at The FA to consider now how they can support “grass roots” football and formulate a plan of action to enable its survival. The financial impact on Non-League clubs going into whatever may be the future could well spell the end for a significant number.
There will still be costs incurred even if they are limited to the basic maintenance of the pitch and general facilities, some wages may have to be paid to keep management and coaching staff on board, even if no players are being retained.
Local sponsorship is a valuable source of income, but will local businesses which have been hit by the lockdown see this expenditure as vital in this new world?
It seems unlikely they will be as generous as before if there is no football being played, so it won’t just be the lack of season ticket, turnstile takings and bar profits to hit clubs but an all-round whirlwind, the likes of which we have not seen before.
I consider myself as a ‘glass half full’ advocate, but at the moment as I look into the glass holding the 2020/21 season, not only does it look half empty but there is a nasty looking virus sitting on the rim and holding a straw through which it is continuing to suck out the contents.
I know the health of the nation and our support for frontline workers is paramount in our fight against coronavirus, but I fear it could spell some very nasty financial disasters for NonLeague football.