Premier League Preparing £250m Bailout for Football League
By Ali Rampling
Premier League clubs are preparing a support package worth £250m to help bail out the Football League, with many in the lower divisions struggling to stay afloat following the coronavirus pandemic.
Clubs in the Championship and leagues One and Two are not afforded the same lucrative television deals as those in the Premier League, and have suffered financially due to a lack of matchday income with games being played behind closed doors.
A number of games lower down the football pyramid were selected for trial matches with a reduced number of supporters over the weekend of the 19-20 September, and crowds were pencilled in for a return at the end of September, enabling clubs to bring in match day revenue.
However, this was dealt a blow by the government's latest lockdown restrictions, and professional sport could now remain behind closed doors for a further six months.
According to the Telegraph, following Johnson's announcement, Premier League clubs are now prepared to step in to make a 'take it or leave it' offer to the Football League in order to keep them afloat.
The support package will be worth £250m - but this will strictly cover lost gate receipts caused by the pandemic. Premier League clubs are said to have 'no intention' of bailing out clubs who were already in a precarious financial position prior to coronavirus.
EFL chairman Rick Parry stated that EFL clubs have lost £50m last season due to playing matches behind closed doors, and could lose another £200m during the 2020/21 campaign if these measures are still in place.
"Over many months we have helped the Government devise, refine and pilot stringent stadium protocols designed to keep supporters safe," said Parry.
"Staging professional football matches is one of the most heavily regulated areas of crowd management and any supporters attending EFL fixtures, in vastly reduced numbers, would have been required to adhere to social distancing and the rule of six.
"Therefore we are deeply frustrated that we will not be able to continue this work and, in doing so, gather the evidence to show that crowds can return safely to football and become an important financial lifeline for our clubs."