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      Football League clubs will ‘disappear in six weeks’ amid crippling coronavirus pandemic, says Leyton Orient chief

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      FOOTBALL LEAGUE clubs could ‘disappear within five to six weeks’ without financial help, according to Leyton Orient chief Nigel Travis.
      The League Two chairman outlined a bleak forecast for the EFL as the coronavirus pandemic cripples teams with fans barred from games.

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      Leyton Orient chief Nigel Travis (left) says Football League clubs could disappear within weeks without helpCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Travis backed Liverpool and Manchester United’s radical restructuring plans, coined ‘Project Big Picture’, as a “great proposal”.
      The changes would reform the English football pyramid and, crucially, see clubs given a £250million bail-out to mitigate the impact of Covid-19.
      Travis told BBC Radio 5 Live: “If clubs don’t get something soon you will see clubs disappear, I would predict, within five to six weeks.
      “One thing I need to quash is, this isn’t about the pandemic, this is about a crisis in football that goes back many years.

      “Before the pandemic, 75 per cent of clubs were losing money – that can’t continue.
      “The pandemic has, if you like, exacerbated the problem and we need to get it fixed.
      “I know you are talking about ‘Project Big Picture’ – this is a great proposal as far as we are concerned. It is certainly very promising and clubs need it.
      “Something like this has to go through.”

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      EFL chairman Rick Parry is backing the controversial proposals but the FA have threatened to use their ‘golden share’ power in order to veto the changes.
      And the government slammed the proposals as a ‘power grab’ and threatened to tear up the FA’s control over the game if the reforms go through.
      Travis added: “The real villains here are the Government. They’ve thrown football into a difficult situation. They said the Premier League has to bail out the EFL.
      “I understand that but now they are complaining about what is coming out of some creative people.
      “Just to be brutally honest, I live in Boston [US]. I know [Liverpool owner] John Henry.

      PROPOSED PREMIER LEAGUE CHANGES IN FULL

      EFL given £250m for loss of matchday revenue – deducted from future TV earnings.
      Nine longest-serving clubs have ‘special status’ – with just six votes from those clubs needed to pass a new rule.
      Premier League to go from 20 clubs to 18.
      FA awarded £100m gift to help during Covid-19 pandemic to help non-league game, the women’s game and grassroots football.
      8.5 per cent of annual net Premier League revenue to go to ‘good causes’, including the FA.
      25 per cent of all combined Premier League and Football League revenues to go to EFL clubs.
      Six per cent of Premier League gross revenues to pay for stadium improvements across the top four divisions.
      New rules for the distribution of Premier League television income, overseas and domestic.
      League Cup and the Community Shield to be axed.
      24 clubs each in the Championship, League One and League Two reducing the professional game overall from 92 clubs to 90.
      A women’s professional league independent of the Premier League and FA.
      Two sides automatically relegated from the Premier League every season and the top two Championship teams promoted.
      The 16th place Premier League club plays in a play-off tournament with the Championship’s third, fourth and fifth placed teams.
      Financial Fair Play regulations in line with Uefa, and full access for Premier League executive to club accounts.
      Away tickets for fans to be capped at £20, with travel subsidised, a focus on a return to safe standing, a minimum away allocation of eight per cent capacity.
      Later Premier League start in August to give greater scope for pre-season friendlies, and requirement for all clubs to compete once every five years in a summer Premier League tournament.
      Huge changes to loan system allowing clubs to have 15 players out on loan domestically at any one time and up to four at a single club in England.
      *According to The Telegraph…

      “He and I have not personally discussed this but I am supportive of the proposal because this is going to save clubs like Leyton Orient and many other clubs in League One and Two.
      “The reality is you need to save football and this is the only and best proposal I’ve seen. The government did a great job with the furlough programme but they’ve given the EFL no chance other than to negotiate with the Premier League.
      “As of a week ago, as far as I know, all the Premier League came up with was £50m – that is not enough.
      “The £250m that has been talked about and the 25 per cent share is clearly going to create a sustainable model and that’s what we need in football.
      “If there are better proposals, I would love to hear them.”

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      Paul Scholes named Salford City manager as Man Utd legend takes over at Class of 92’s League Two club

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      PAUL SCHOLES has been named as Salford’s interim manager after the club’s Class of 92 owners sacked Graham Alexander.
      A statement released on Monday confirmed the former Manchester United midfielder’s appointment.

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      Paul Scholes (left) watched on with Gary Neville and Roy Keane as Salford drew on SaturdayCredit: PA:Press Association

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      The Manchester United legend is among a consortium of former Old Trafford favourites who co-own the clubCredit: SALFORD CITY FC

      Scholes, 45, was part of the consortium to buy 50 per cent of the minnows back in 2014.
      The Class of 92 venture, including David Beckham, Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt, and Phil Neville, even saw the ex-England star take caretaker charge of a game in 2015.
      Their funding quickly elevated City to League Two, where they sit fifth in the table.

      But Neville and Scholes watched as two late goals pegged their side back to a draw at home to Tranmere on Saturday, leading to Alexander’s dismissal.
      According to the Mail, Scholes was reluctant to take over and club development manager Warren Joyce is expected to step in and help when he completes a period of self-isolation.
      His only serious venture into management came last year in a seven-game stint at Oldham.
      Once thought to have sold his Salford stake when accepting the offer to coach the Latics, he won only once and fell out with owner Abdallah Lemsagam.

      Fans of ambitious Salford were surprised to see Alexander, 49, sacked after an unbeaten start to the league season.

      Paul Scholes will act as the interim head coach while the club looks to secure a new manager.
      Salford CityClub Statement

      The Scot led the club to promotion from the National League in his first campaign, their fourth rise in five years, before an 11th-placed finish in 2019-20.
      Salford supporter Broughton posted online: “Wow I didn’t see this coming. Gutted.”
      While Andrew commented: “It’s like he was trying to get sacked with those subs at the weekend.”
      Another Twitter user wrote: “If you lot actually had fans, I’m sure they’d be devastated. Baffling decision this.”

      A club statement read: “Salford City Football Club announces that manager Graham Alexander has left the club with immediate effect. The club met with Graham this morning and after discussion have agreed to part company.
      “The club would like to thank Graham for his contribution and all his hard work. In his first season he guided the team to Wembley, resulting in promotion to League Two and in his second season he reached the Leasing.com Trophy final.
      “The club would like to wish him all the best and success in the future. First team coach, Chris Lucketti, will also leave the club.
      “Paul Scholes will act as the interim head coach while the club looks to secure a new manager. Warren Joyce, currently in isolation, will join Paul once he is able to.”

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      Chelsea plot double transfer swoop for Grimsby Town youngsters Louis Boyd and Ben Grist but face fight with Liverpool

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      CHELSEA are reportedly plotting a double transfer swoop for Grimsby Town youngsters Louis Boyd and Ben Grist – but face competition from Liverpool.
      The two Premier League clubs have had their interests piqued by the talented pair as they appear in League Two for Ian Holloway’s team.

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      Louis Boyd comes off the bench for his debut in the EFL Cup against Harrogate, where he became Grimsby’s youngest goal scorer and appearance makerCredit: Twitter@EFL_Trophy

      Boyd became the club’s youngest-ever debutant and goalscorer when he came off the bench against Harrogate Town in the EFL Trophy last month.
      He was only 15 years and 324 days old when he found the net in that match.
      The teenager then got his league debut when he came off the bench in the final 20 minutes against Walsall four days after his cup heroics.
      Fellow midfielder Grist, also 15, was left on the bench for the Harrogate game, which Grimsby drew 2-2 but then won 7-6 on penalties.

      The Athletic report that Chelsea, Liverpool and other Premier League teams are monitoring the pair – who are also working towards their GCSEs.
      It is believed the financial pressures inflicted by the Covid-19 pandemic could force Grimsby to sell two of their prized academy assets.
      The club estimates their losses this season will come to £700,000.
      The Mariners, bottom of the EFL, have only managed to play three league games this season following a positive coronavirus test within the squad which forced their training ground to be shut down.

      League Two fixtures versus Cheltenham Town and Bradford City, and an EFL Trophy fixture at Hull City, all had to be postponed.

      They returned to action on the weekend, drawing 0-0 at Bolton.
      The domestic window closes on Thursday, meaning that any interested Premier League club must buy Boyd and Grist by then – or will have to wait until next year.
      If the pair were to move to Chelsea, it is likely they will join the club’s many players out on loan.

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      Government threaten to tear up FA’s control over football if Prem follow ‘backroom’ Project Big Picture to reduce league

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      THE GOVERNMENT has threatened to step in to football amid radical plans to change the game.
      It was revealed at the weekend that Manchester United and Liverpool are leading the charge for a massive overhaul of English football.

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      Secretary of State Oliver Dowden has hinted that the government could intervene in footballCredit: PA:Press Association

      Reds owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) have authored a spectacular ‘Revitalisation’ document in a bid to give the Premier League its biggest shake-up since its 1992 inception.
      The Telegraph claims the document proposes an 18-team top flight, the axing of the League Cup and additional funding made available for the Football League.
      A statement from the Prime Minister read that the proposal ‘does not command support through the Premier League’.
      It continued: “It is exactly this type of back room dealing that undermines trust in football’s governance.

      “We strongly urge PL and EFL to continue to work constructively to come up with a deal.”
      Now Secretary of State Oliver Dowden has hinted that the Government could intervene and take control of governance of the Beautiful Game.
      Dowden is scheduled to speak at a select committee today about plans for fans to return to sporting venues.
      Speaking on Sky News on Monday morning, Dowden said: “If we keep having these backroom deals and all these other things going on we will have to look again at the underlying governance of football.

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      “We promised in the (general election) manifesto a fan-led review and I must say the events I have seen the past few weeks have made this seem more urgent again.
      “Unless the clubs and the Premier League and the EFL can get together urgently in order to support the game through this difficult period of time it does raise genuine questions about the governance of the sport.”
      Manchester United have given their support to the document – in the works since 2017 – called ‘Project Big Picture’.
      And the North-West giants – fierce rivals on the pitch – expect the rest of the ‘Big Six’ clubs to support the move.
      Liverpool and United are hopeful Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham will all get on board with their proposed changes.
      Above all other changes, the clubs have proposed to give struggling EFL clubs £250million to help them survive the coronavirus pandemic.
      Moving forward, Premier League clubs will give a massive 25 per cent of their income to teams in the Football League.
      The move is said to help end the ‘revenue chasm’ between the Premier League and Football League.

      PROPOSED PREMIER LEAGUE CHANGES IN FULL

      EFL given £250m for loss of matchday revenue – deducted from future TV earnings.
      Nine longest-serving clubs have ‘special status’ – with just six votes from those clubs needed to pass a new rule.
      Premier League to go from 20 clubs to 18.
      FA awarded £100m gift to help during Covid-19 pandemic to help non-league game, the women’s game and grassroots football.
      8.5 per cent of annual net Premier League revenue to go to ‘good causes’, including the FA.
      25 per cent of all combined Premier League and Football League revenues to go to EFL clubs.
      Six per cent of Premier League gross revenues to pay for stadium improvements across the top four divisions.
      New rules for the distribution of Premier League television income, overseas and domestic.
      League Cup and the Community Shield to be axed.
      24 clubs each in the Championship, League One and League Two reducing the professional game overall from 92 clubs to 90.
      A women’s professional league independent of the Premier League and FA.
      Two sides automatically relegated from the Premier League every season and the top two Championship teams promoted.
      The 16th place Premier League club plays in a play-off tournament with the Championship’s third, fourth and fifth placed teams.
      Financial Fair Play regulations in line with Uefa, and full access for Premier League executive to club accounts.
      Away tickets for fans to be capped at £20, with travel subsidised, a focus on a return to safe standing, a minimum away allocation of eight per cent capacity.
      Later Premier League start in August to give greater scope for pre-season friendlies, and requirement for all clubs to compete once every five years in a summer Premier League tournament.
      Huge changes to loan system allowing clubs to have 15 players out on loan domestically at any one time and up to four at a single club in England.
      *According to The Telegraph…

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      Millwall chief issues stark warning on devastating damage to communities if clubs go under

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      MILLWALL chief Steve Kavanagh believes the impact on communities will be devastating if EFL clubs go to the wall.
      The Lions bigwig has called on the Government to act swiftly to save Covid-crippled clubs from going bust.

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      Millwall chief executive Steve Kavanagh has highlighted the community work done by football clubsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      His stark warning is that, if they do, many communities across the country could be ravaged by emotional and economic depression for years.
      Speaking to SunSport as part of the Save Our Clubs drive highlighting the work clubs do on and off the field, Kavanagh said: “We’re not just talking about our national sport, the community work done by clubs in this country is vital. It has been for years.
      “Boris Johnson came  to The Den to see it first hand when he was Mayor of London and was highly impressed.
      “And when you take into consideration lockdown and what clubs, including Millwall, did to support their local communities, society and the vulnerable who were scared and did not have food . . . the work that went on was incredible.

      “We sheltered the homeless, we delivered more than 5,000 free dinners to children and care packages to the vulnerable and needy.
      “We didn’t just deliver food packages, with them we  delivered cooking lessons to ensure people could sustain themselves with good food, not just ready meals.
      “We also stored PPE for the NHS, while other clubs allowed stadiums to be used as testing centres.
      “Despite having absolutely no income, Millwall, through our chairman John Berylson, pledged £300,000 to our community trust during this period when we were on our knees.

      “Our community work is valued at more than £10million to Lewisham and the local area. And that is replicated all over the country.
      “If clubs are lost, that will be lost — and that would result in real damage to society.
      “And that’s before you get into job losses in and around football clubs.
      “The Government has to start recognising what football actually does — and not just continue taking from it all the time.
      “It needs to understand what we do for communities outside of actually playing, which is extremely important in itself for wellbeing. And it needs to help.”
      Millwall, who have spent more than £100,000 reconfiguring The Den to make it safe to host matches, have been hit hard by the ban on fans attending matches.
      American Berylson is having to pump in £1m a MONTH to keep them afloat.
      And Kavanagh admitted: “Unfortunately, we have had to make some staff redundant. It’s been really, really sad.
      “But I’m having to try to run a business which is haemorrhaging money and have no idea when its income streams will be returning.”
      The PM plus Culture, Media and Sports Secretary Oliver Dowden have announced rescue packages for the arts — but not our national sport.
      Kavanagh added: “The Government is not treating football fairly and in line with other entertainment businesses.
      “I can’t believe we haven’t lost more clubs in the EFL. That’s a testament to the club owners and chairmen.

      “They’re all putting their hands in their pockets to keep clubs and their community assets alive by feeding the vulnerable and schoolkids, sheltering the homeless and helping the NHS.
      “What worries me is I don’t know where the breaking points for these owners and chairmen are. Even with John.
      “I don’t want to over- dramatise that but when does he say enough is enough? I hope to God I never find out.”

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      Steve Kavanagh, right, is worried that entire areas could be hung out to dryCredit: PA:Empics Sport

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      Roy Keane looks unimpressed as he watches Salford throw away 2-0 lead with ex-Man Utd pals Paul Scholes and Gary Neville

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      ROY KEANE watched Salford with old Manchester United team-mates Gary Neville and Paul Scholes… but will not have been impressed as they threw away a 2-0 lead.
      The trio of Old Trafford legends were watching the League Two clash at the Peninsula Stadium as Tranmere scored twice in the last five minutes to grab a point.

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      Roy Keane sat apart from Gary Neville and Paul Scholes as they watched Salford’s draw with TranmereCredit: Rex Features

      And, judging by the distance between them, Neville and Scholes may have fearing so cutting analysis from the famously-grumpy pundit.
      In reality the United icons seemed to be sensibly practicing social distancing.
      Keane was sat alone on the end of a row while Neville and Scholes stood together the other side of an aisle.
      Salford exploded out the blocks and went 2-0 up inside 20 minutes thanks to goals from Richie Towell and James Wilson.

      But their hearts were broken late on as Tranmere rescued a point in dramatic fashion.
      Kieron Morris struck in the 86th minute to give Rovers hope before Paul Lewis grabbed the equaliser in the 93rd minute.
      Elsewhere, Keane slammed Man Utd’s players for their ‘dire’ display against Tottenham.
      United’s former captain was furious after the 6-1 home defeat and ranted they will cost Ole Gunnar Solskjaer his job.

      Elsewhere, Neville lashed out at the Premier League for their decision to charge £14.95 for games.

      He tweeted: “This is a really bad move by the @premierleague to charge £14.95 for single matches that have been shown free for 6 months!”
      The Sky Sports pundit also poked fun Liverpool with a witty social media post after they were humiliated 7-2 at Aston Villa.
      Neville uploaded a picture of himself with a glass of red wine and a huge grin on his face.

      This is a really bad move by the @premierleague to charge £14.95 for single matches that have been shown free for 6 months !
      — Gary Neville (@GNev2) October 9, 2020

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      Jarrod Bowen recalls watching his beloved Hereford go bust as West Ham star backs The Sun’s Save Our Clubs campaign

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      JARROD BOWEN loved watching his beloved Hereford United from the Edgar Street terraces.
      The young Bowen cheered on the Bulls in League One and Two and played for them in the National League aged 17.

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      Jarrod Bowen is now a Premier League star but, like many, started out in the EFLCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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      The winger broke through at Hereford United and played in their final full season before going under

      And he was devastated when the 90-year-old club that gave him his fondest childhood football memories — and his senior debut — was wound up in the High Court six years ago.
      In the past year two-time FA Cup winners Bury have been kicked out of the EFL and Macclesfield went bust last month after 146 years.
      And Bowen, 23, believes it is vital other clubs do not suffer the same fate as English football faces its biggest crisis. Without them, the likes of Bowen might never have made it.
      The West Ham winger told SunSport: “It was a grim time. It wasn’t nice to see, especially as it was my home-town team.

      “And I’m sure it’s the same feeling for Bury and Macclesfield fans.
      “They weren’t massive clubs but had strong connections with their towns and had many loyal fans who were die-hards. It’s hard to accept.”
      Bowen became an Edgar Street regular aged 12 but remembers watching them even younger.
      At ten, he went to cheer the Bulls with his Leominster Minors team-mates. The moment was captured by club photographer Stephen Niblett in December 2006 when the club were in League Two.

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      Bowen, left in white Hereford shirt and glasses, would go along to Edgar Street to watch his local team as a youngster

      Bowen — wearing a pair of glasses — is on the Meadow End terrace clad in the Hereford home shirt with his arms aloft.
      The Hammers ace said: “From high-school age, there were a few of us that would go after school on a Tuesday when it was £1 to get in.
      “There was a guy that was older who took us over.
      “We’d go because where we were from, Hereford was the main attraction. They were our local team and being on the terraces at a young age isn’t as daunting as going to a big stadium. Edgar Street only holds 5,000.
      “There was that enjoyment of watching the game with your mates, standing on the terraces. That’s what it’s like in the lower divisions.”
      It has been warned EFL clubs could start going bust around Christmas if there is no financial bailout from the Premier League or Government — or fans are not allowed to return in some capacity.
      And Bowen said: “Everyone wants the smaller clubs to stay in business. Lower-league football provides massive enjoyment for the population of England.
      “Even an FA Cup game, when you get the giantkilling teams hosting Premier League clubs at their stadiums, that gives a proper buzz for those fans.”

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      Bowen had an unsuccessful trial at Cardiff before signing for Hereford UnitedCredit: nibbo

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      He was handed his senior debut in the National League against Barnet aged 17

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      The wide man was living at home with his parents but saw many team-mates struggle financially due to the club’s plight Credit: nibbo

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      The Hammers hero will always be grateful to his ex-manager Pete Beadle and assistant Steve Jenkins for giving him his Hereford breakCredit: nibbo
      Bowen, after an unsuccessful trial with Cardiff, joined the Bulls and made his senior debut in the National League against Barnet aged 17.
      He can relate to how lower-league footballers and staff are worried about losing their livelihoods — as he was in a Hereford squad who did not get paid for six months before the club went to the wall.
      Bowen said: “I was lucky because I was living at home and travelling to Hereford from my parents’ house.
      “My only outgoing was a £30 train fare for the week to take me the 15-mile distance.
      “I didn’t have anything to pay for but there were older lads who relied on that money, had kids, a mortgage — and they weren’t getting paid.”
      It proved to be the final season of Hereford’s history — one that famously included Ronnie Radford’s wonder strike in their giantkilling of Newcastle in the 1972 FA Cup.
      After Bowen featured in their last game of the 2013-14 season — a 2-1 win at Aldershot — the club were expelled from the National League and wound up in December 2014.
      And he said: “Every one of the lads — and the fans, including me — was in freeze mode. We couldn’t believe what had happened.

      Hopefully we’ll see Hereford back as an established Football League team once again
      Jarrod Bowen

      “We had been playing in League One only a few seasons earlier against the likes of Leeds and Leicester.
      “So we went from being an established EFL side to staying up on the last day of the season in the National League but then being expelled and liquidated.”
      Phoenix club Hereford FC have since formed and climbed three divisions to National League North.
      And Bowen, who keenly follows their exploits, said: “They managed to keep the stadium and are on the rise. Hopefully we’ll see them back as an established Football League team once again.”
      Bowen will always be indebted to Hereford and ex-manager Pete Beadle and assistant Steve Jenkins, who gave him his break.
      He said: “It was the best thing I was involved in. The Premier League clubs have the youth set-ups but me being at a young age in National League football with fully grown men, some of whom had made hundreds of Football League appearances, matured me.
      “I had a better understanding and felt a lot more at ease in that environment than being surrounded by youth-level footballers.
      “When you’re in and around that old-school, non-league, head-it, kick-it football, you’ve got to be tough.

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      Bowen learnt to toughen up early on during his time playing with his home-town clubCredit: nibbo

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      He is desperate to see Hereford FC establish themselves in the Football League once againCredit: nibbo
      “Having that experience definitely helped me when I made the transition to Hull.”
      Bowen spent five years at the KCOM Stadium and was a regular in the team for two-and-a-half seasons — scoring a staggering 52 goals in 112 league starts as a winger.
      And he said: “When we got into the Premier League, I wanted to go on loan to get game time for my development but they wanted me to stay.
      “That was frustrating on one hand but, on the other, training with Premier League players who had massive experience and were internationals helped me.
      “When we got relegated I had two-and-a-half seasons playing in the Championship and loved every minute of it, playing games — that’s exactly what I needed.”
      Bowen, now at West Ham after his £22million January move, is on fire. He has netted three in the last two games — a 4-0 win against Wolves followed by a shock 3-0 victory at Leicester.
      He said: “I scored a few in pre-season, giving me confidence. In the Arsenal game I had a few shots blocked then got my first brace against Wolves and scored in the Leicester game.
      “Scoring in the Premier League is another box ticked off. Getting a full season will be good for me. Hopefully I can kick on and have many more years in the Premier League.”

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      Bowen managed 52 goals in 112 league starts for Hull during a successful spell with the TigersCredit: Rex Features

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      He backed up his double against West Ham with the third goal in the 3-0 win at LeicesterCredit: EPA

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