no_loyalty
Well-Known Member
Some clubs in the National league and below are going to be fucked now.
Fans back in !!! kinda (43 Viewers)
- Thread starter jordan210
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KenilworthSkyBlue
Well-Known Member
I think this was inevitable but without fans through the turnstiles I truly fear for clubs throughout the EFL. The EFL need to have a contingency plan, step up, and fight for the future of its member clubs up and down the country.
As mentioned in the Andy Holt thread, Colchester United in their last match received circa 450 iFollow subscriptions from an average fanbase of nearly 4000. I think it's safe to say this dramatic dip in paying fans is probably a common theme for most clubs as iFollow revenue isn't going to scratch the surface of what would usually be received on a normal match day. Families who usually attend together only purchasing one subscription, illegal Facebook streams, the older generation not having the know-how to use iFollow (sorry perhaps slightly ageist) and those who either don't have the cash or simply cannot be bothered all factor into why the iFollow subscription model just isn't a sustainable stopgap for EFL clubs. Further financial aid is desperately required until fans are allowed back into stadiums again.
Without a bailout, whether it be from the PL or the government then I fear for the future of several EFL clubs. I think it's inevitable that we will see at least 4-5 clubs folding between now and the end of the year.
As mentioned in the Andy Holt thread, Colchester United in their last match received circa 450 iFollow subscriptions from an average fanbase of nearly 4000. I think it's safe to say this dramatic dip in paying fans is probably a common theme for most clubs as iFollow revenue isn't going to scratch the surface of what would usually be received on a normal match day. Families who usually attend together only purchasing one subscription, illegal Facebook streams, the older generation not having the know-how to use iFollow (sorry perhaps slightly ageist) and those who either don't have the cash or simply cannot be bothered all factor into why the iFollow subscription model just isn't a sustainable stopgap for EFL clubs. Further financial aid is desperately required until fans are allowed back into stadiums again.
Without a bailout, whether it be from the PL or the government then I fear for the future of several EFL clubs. I think it's inevitable that we will see at least 4-5 clubs folding between now and the end of the year.
AFCCOVENTRY
Well-Known Member
Plenty of articles for you to read now.
RegTheDonk
Well-Known Member
Sad but probably true.
I presume there was some consultation between the FL and the Gov prior to commencing this season. In L1 & L2, there was a fairly overwhelming vote to stop playing, with the reason it was financially crippling to play BCD. Why did the new season even start if there wasn't some kind of safeguards in place should the virus start to take hold again?
In terms of the PL, wouldn't it be nice if those clubs and the higer earning players dipped their hands in their pockets and voluntarily donated some of their wages/fees, just to see those lower league clubs through the winter. Would be a nice ealy Christmas present and show a bit of brotherhood.
Saddlebrains
Well-Known Member
I think you'll see just 3 divisions after this. Domino effect will now take hold
clint van damme
Well-Known Member
we might be abler to pick ourselves up a mothballed ground on the cheap
AFCCOVENTRY
Well-Known Member
Some might say this has been a master stroke by Sisu to starve Wasps another season with no rental income from us with the inevitable lack of supporters in stadiums this season.
Sky_Blue_Dreamer
Well-Known Member
I get the argument in allowing some things that would appear a greater risk than football crowds to remain open instead. I'm not agreeing with that stance. If it were me and this was brought up I'd be inclined to shut the pubs rather than let fans in the football.
But has been pointed out these decisions aren't really being made on transmission etc, they're being made largely on economic grounds. Pubs etc employ far more people and generate far more revenue than football matches do. So they'll strive to keep them open longer. Plus there's a popularity issue - not allowing fans into stadiums is unpopular, not letting people go to the pub is even more so.
Broken Hearted Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
No conferences or exhibitions my heart has never bled so much
Grendel
Well-Known Member
No there aren't you said there will be a six month lockdown - there is no sign of that at all is there?
David O'Day
Well-Known Member
They are not made on economic grounds. If these clubs got out of business the economic harm these communities face is huge.
The reason it was made was it's an easy and headline grabbing story.
Liquid Gold
Well-Known Member
Thank fuck for Championship TV money or we'd be looking down the barrel.
Frostie
Well-Known Member
Even more relevant is the ban only affects 'elite' football which is National League North/South & above.
So teams below Step 2 are free to allow 30% of their supporters in. There were regular attendances of 600 fans at these games last weekend with nowhere near the levels of control that can be implemented in PL & EFL.
KenilworthSkyBlue
Well-Known Member
I think we also have the Wilson money to thank for that.
Liquid Gold
Well-Known Member
I think that's what has provided us with Hamer, Sheaf and Walker.
KenilworthSkyBlue
Well-Known Member
To my knowledge, it wasn't. Well not all of it anyway. I've been told today that the club are now in a good place financially after Wilson's sale. I doubt my contact would've said that if all of the money was already spent.
shmmeee
Well-Known Member
I hope that this is true, but considering I’ve heard that from various chairmen about as long as I’ve been a City fan and it’s never been true I won’t hold my breath.
KenilworthSkyBlue
Well-Known Member
I don't see why this time it wouldn't be true. But I understand your scepticism.
If you think about it though Robins realistically wouldn't be allowed to spend money that wasn't already in the bank, not when club revenue has been slashed and we're reliant on such funds to survive the course of the season whilst restrictions remain in place.
Also, given that the club couldn't have predicted how much money they would have earned from the sale, as reported fees were ranging from £10 million to £25 million throughout the summer, it would take a special kind of lunatic to start spending (relative to us anyway) big money on players without having it securely in the bank - especially in the midst of a pandemic and with cash flow non-existant. Walker and Hamer were purchased prior to Wilson's sale. The only player we perhaps put money aside for could be Sheaf, as that deal happened only a few days prior to Wilson's move to Newcastle. So, if I had to take a speculative guess, we signed off on the Sheaf deal once we had the green light over the Wilson money coming in. But I must stress that's pure speculation from my end.
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Sky_Blue_Dreamer
Well-Known Member
So you realise that in order to try and keep some sort of containment on the virus things have to close. But on the other hand you can't close everything because people will have no work/income. So how do you choose which to close and which to keep open? Those that employ the most people. Pubs etc overall will employ far more people in them and their supply chains that the football league will.
On the other hand if you were making the decision on transmission it would be the pubs shutting every time as it's a more confined, indoor space which is more likely to result in people flouting rules due to drink.
So if the pubs are allowed to stay open and the football isn't it's being based on the economics, not the science..
It's not the only consideration that's been taken but it will be a big factor. I'm not saying it's right or that I agree with it
David O'Day
Well-Known Member
Why are you acting like the decision was to either keep pubs open or stop the planned testing of fans back at games?
Your whole argument works if that is the case and it wasn't.
Hobo
Well-Known Member
There is according to Boris Johnson.
Hobo
Well-Known Member
Hamer and Walker were done before Wilson was sold so I doubt it.
The Great Eastern
Well-Known Member
Heard this evening from a Norfolk FA official that the main FA is hovering over the cancel button for grass roots football for this season. The league that I'm an official in looks likely to get games played this weekend but after that is very uncertain. Seems players, officials and the few supporters arent, for the most part, practising safe covid-19 protocol.
Hobo
Well-Known Member
Yes and anyone expecting us to be still splashing cash on players will be disapointed.
Most the Wilson money will go on day to day running of the club.
Grendel
Well-Known Member
There is? Really?
Sky Blue Harry H
Well-Known Member
I've already accepted we won't be back this season, and its a bonus if we are
Same here
Skyblueweeman
Well-Known Member
Gate receipts only make up 15% of Rochdales turnover. Whilst I get your point and agree to an extent, it's not going to be a death knell for every club.
Skyblueweeman
Well-Known Member
There's 1,000s in the industry who have lost their jobs because of those. I get your point in relation to Wasps but I was one who lost their job from the hospitality industry because of this and have seen many, many good people lose their jobs as well.
Grendel
Well-Known Member
I suspect Rochdale is much higher than that and the figure is distorted by £1.3m generated in player sales last year
Skyblueweeman
Well-Known Member
Well I've been speaking regularly with their CEO recently who told me that figure himself, so I suspect it's not much higher than that.
Grendel
Well-Known Member
Well he should read his own accounts then. Last year £5 million turnover of which £1 million is transfer fees.
You can’t also fail to aid the f and b income at matches or club ship sales and hiring of the ground on non match days - add them together and it’s £1.5 million of income. There isn’t any other income other than grants, payments from the FA and prize money.
They lost £1.5m last year and £1.5m revenue would be removed on top with zero fans
KenilworthSkyBlue
Well-Known Member
It hasn't been reported that it will? It'll still be hugely damaging for most though nonetheless.
All reports have consistently said that worst case scenario would be the number of clubs folding could reach potentially reach double figures without a Premier League bailout.
It's a short term fix and perhaps kicking the can down the road, but if the EFL secured a bailout, this would at least provide clubs with time.