FA chief issues stark fans' warning and season update with Leeds United promotion push on hold

FA CHAIRMAN Greg Clarke admits fans will not be gracing football stadiums "any time soon" as Leeds United's promotion continues on hold.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Writing to all members of the FA council, Clarke's warning comes amidst speculation that the whole of next season could be played behind closed doors

United have seen their bid to secure Premier League football halted by the country's ongoing battle against coronavirus which has the nation on lockdown amidst strict social distancing measures.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to review the measures on Sunday and map out some sort of lockdown exit plan with both the Premier League and EFL seasons currently suspended.

Leeds sit top of the Championship having nine games left with Marcelo Bielsa's Whites holding a seven-point cushion in the automatic promotion places and sitting one point ahead of second-placed West Brom.

Both the Premier League and EFL have repeatedly stated their intention to properly complete their seasons by playing all remaining fixtures when safe to do so with the Premier League looking at staging games at neutral grounds behind closed doors as part of Project Restart.

The EFL also hope to play all of their remaining fixtures within a 56-day time-frame in the summer months on the assumption those games would be behind closed doors.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The EFL have highlighted May 16 as a potential date for players to return to training.

STARK TRUTH: From FA chairman Greg Clarke. Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images.STARK TRUTH: From FA chairman Greg Clarke. Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images.
STARK TRUTH: From FA chairman Greg Clarke. Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images.

But as far as crowds are concerned, many clubs only expect football to get back to normal when there is a coronavirus vaccine which most experts say will not be available until the middle of next year.

In the meantime, Clarke admits it is impossible to say just when fans will be permitted back into stadiums to cheer on their teams.

"Our executive team has been building out different scenarios that we might potentially face as a result of the pandemic," said Clarke in his letter.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"The reality is that we just don’t know how things are going to pan out, but with social distancing in place for some time to come we do face substantial changes to the whole football ecosystem.

"For example it’s hard to foresee crowds of fans – who are the lifeblood of the game – returning to matches any time soon."

Clarke has also revealed that the FA's budget could be cut by as much as £300million over the next four years.

The severe financial implications of lost revenue have been felt across the board, leading the governing body to cut this year's budget by £75million - a measure which could be extended for a further three seasons "in a worst case scenario."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

This would likely have an effect on grassroots football which relies on FA funding.

Clarke wrote: "Whilst we would all like to see football return in the coming weeks, the health of our communities and the protection of the NHS must remain our priority and we will continue to be led by Government advice as we work together with stakeholders from across the game to assess any potential restart.

"The Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant financial impact on all sectors of society and sadly football is one of many sports to have been affected as a consequence.

"I want to assure you that we are committed to supporting the game as a whole through this crisis; especially the lower echelons, where the impact has been felt most acutely.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"Having worked through the numbers with Mark (Bullingham) and the executive team, the Board has agreed that a sensible cut to the annual budget is £75m.

"In a worst-case scenario, this would be necessary for the next four years to offset a £300m deficit.

"Clearly that will impact many of our plans as every area of the game will be touched and projects that we all value will be affected.

"There is no other way and I ask for all of you to help us to build this revised plan."

A message from the Editor:

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Thank you for reading this story on our website. These are challenging times but the team at the Yorkshire Evening Post need your support more than ever in the weeks ahead.

While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you. In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you - wherever possible and providing it is safe for you to do so - to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Inevitably falling advertising revenues will start to have an impact on local newspapers and the way we continue to work during this period of uncertainty.

So the support of our readers has never been more important as we try to make sure that we keep you connected with the city you live in during this time.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. We need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Our team of trusted reporters are working incredibly hard behind the scenes - from kitchen tables and spare bedrooms - to look at how we can do this and your continued support to the YEP will help to protect its viability in the days and weeks ahead.

For more details on our subscription offers please visit www.localsubsplus.co.uk/YEP, email [email protected] or call us on 0330 4033004

Thank you

Laura Collins

Editor

READ MORE: https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/opinion/were-therewithyou-now-your-yep-needs-your-support-too-laura-collins-yep-editor-2521777

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.