THE EFL announced a £50million relief package last night to safeguard clubs’ immediate futures.
And league chief executive Rick Parry also stated the intention to complete the season when it is finally safe to do so.
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EFL announced a £50million relief package last night to safeguard clubs’ immediate futures amid the coronavirus outbreakCredit: Getty
He said: “We want it to be played to its conclusion, which maintains the integrity of the league.”
But Burton chairman Ben Robinson told SunSport that clubs face a long-term crisis if further measures are not taken.
And his counterpart at League Two club Scunthorpe Peter Swann fears clubs will go bust or into administration.
But the EFL board said it will release to all 71 clubs their remaining award payments for this campaign, while the rest of the cash is to be made up through interest-free loans.
The 47 League One and League Two clubs told the EFL they face a combined loss of around £50m if the campaign cannot restart before the summer.
All 24 Championship clubs want to finish the season and Parry added: “In terms of immediate financial concerns for clubs that are acute, we’ve approved a package of £50m to go from the EFL coffers to clubs in way of this season’s distributions and advance of monies.
“That will tide them over for a little while why we continue to explore taking advantage of the range of measures the Chancellor has been announcing.”
Brewers chairman Robinson said: “With the uncertainty of when the season will be completed, behind closed doors or not, we need to look at the bigger picture.
“Clubs have the opportunity to draw money down through the interest-free loan but it’s money they’d be receiving next season from the league.
“It’s a good idea but one must recognise that money will not be able to support the budget for next season.
“This is a good short-term fix for the current situation but that would leave a hole in the future of income funding.
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“That is why we must look at the problem over a long-term period not just an initial few months.”
Irons chief Swann said: “I hope they’ve got a proper plan because there are a lot of teams, who are going to be struggling financially and will go out of business or at least go into administration.”
Meanwhile, the EFL has postponed the Trophy final between Portsmouth and Salford on April 5.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
