Closed doors will not spare English Football League’s clubs from crisis

The English Football League (EFL) warned the economic crisis facing its clubs will not be spared by a resumption of matches behind closed doors.

The Billy Bremner statue outside Elland Road, the home ground of Leeds United, who currently sit top of the second-tier Championship. Picture: Getty Images

The English Football League (EFL) warned the economic crisis facing its clubs will not be spared by a resumption of matches behind closed doors, as it delayed any return to training until May 25.

Unlike the top-tier Premier League, which is pressing ahead with plans to finish the season in a bid to satisfy lucrative television contracts, many of the 71 clubs in the three divisions of the EFL are far more reliant on gate receipts.

The UK government earlier this week paved the way for elite sport to return behind closed doors from June 1. However, it is likely to be many months before supporters are allowed back into stadiums due to social distancing guidelines to help slow the spread of coronavirus.

“Solutions are still required to fill the financial hole left by the crisis,” the EFL said in a statement after a meeting with clubs.

“The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic will not be rectified simply by a return to play behind closed doors.”

Government guidelines were issued on Wednesday to advise how elite sport can return safely to training. However, the EFL pushed back the earliest date for training to recommence to allow clubs time to implement the changes needed to meet new protocols and a comprehensive testing program.

“Clubs have today been issued with the latest draft of the EFL’s ‘Return to Training Protocols’, so that they can prepare appropriately,” the statement added.

“However, until all outstanding matters are concluded, including finalising a comprehensive testing program on matchdays and non-matchdays, the EFL Board has informed its Clubs that a return to training should not take place until 25 May at the earliest.”

All clubs in the Championship have nine matches remaining, while some in League One and Two have up to 10 fixtures of the season still to play.

The bottom two tiers could, though, struggle to complete the campaign due to the costs associated with implementing testing and the high percentage of player contracts set to expire in the coming weeks.

“I don’t see League One and League Two starting,” said Rotherham chairman Tony Stewart, whose side sit second in League One.

Meanwhile, a debate hosted by FIFA-backed research centre has warned the game may lose over 100 clubs to bankruptcy.

“I think the biggest threat to club football in the coming six months is going to be the survival of smaller clubs,” Lokomotiva Zagreb director Dennis Gudasic said.

Gudasic warned of a “drastic situation whereby we have maybe 100, or 200 clubs go bankrupt in September or October” if challenges facing smaller clubs are not understood.

Clubs across Europe have been denied commercial revenue with no games in most countries for at least two months, and only fan-free games in empty stadiums likely for months ahead.

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