“The Government is in regular dialogue with the football authorities to understand their financial position - but has been absolutely clear that it expects football to look first at how it can support itself through these difficult times.”
Government admits it has no plan to help struggling lower league football clubs
Cash-strapped clubs – reliant on ticket and refreshment sales – are under threat as there remains no clear path for fans to return to games in person after Covid-19.
Football fans’ woes look set to continue as the Government admitted it had no plan to help struggling lower league clubs.
With no clear path for fans coming back to stadia, ministers have not set out measures to help cash-strapped clubs reliant on ticket and refreshment sales.
Boris Johnson said last week that efforts to get spectators back into large sports grounds by October 1 would be reviewed amid coronavirus rates.
And pilots of larger sports events have been limited to 1,000 .
Shadow Sports Minister Alison McGovern pressed the Government for answers on financial problems for lower league clubs facing grim futures.
But Tory Minister Nigel Huddleston suggested in a written parliamentary answer that there was no further plan once the general business support packages wind up.
Mr Huddleston said the Government had provided “unprecedented support to businesses” during the pandemic, which many clubs have benefited from.
Wirral South MP Ms McGovern said: “Football fans have had a tough year and the Covid-19 crisis has shown how much the Premier League dominates. It’s fantastic we can watch the new season on the telly but it’s lower league clubs in our towns we need to be looking after.
“The financial problems many clubs are facing should worry us all. Those clubs stepped in when the going got tough to serve their local community.”
She added: “We cannot afford to lose those family connections and friendships, which go way beyond the play on the pitch.
“These are institutions – not businesses like any other. No town deserves to lose a much-loved club.”
A Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokesperson said: “We have been consistently clear that finances from the top level of football must support the rest of the pyramid to help secure the sport through this crisis. “The best way to put football clubs on a sustainable footing is to secure the safe return of spectators. DCMS is working at pace to deliver this, and have a group with sporting bodies and health experts looking at new technologies to accelerate the return of fans.”
Original article 14.09.20 on Mirror Online.
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