Can the season start without fans?

[Reginald Horsfield]

So pubs are too close at 10pm. That should be fun next Monday in the boozers when Liverpool are playing Arsenal with an 815 ko. Should be interesting at 10 pm !

[Daveh]

Restrictions just announced include no return of supporters to sporting events. Restrictions are in place for at least 6 months.
"Quote from PM's speach"
Finally, plans for trials to have the public return to sporting events and conference centres have also been paused.

[Lincoln exile]

What worries me most is that, unless some very unusual contracts have been drawn up in these exceptional circumstances, payments due to players will remain even if they cannot play.

[Ajaxman DFC]

Football is an outdoor event which is far more safer than being inside pubs which are now open for atleast 12 hours a day.
Many clubs are now in danger of going out of business, with the National League being at the greatest risk.
Meanwhile pubs will have to close a mere 1 hour earlier everyday. What the hell is that about?
I am now sick and tired off being told what to do living, or rather existing, in a country being run by a bunch of boffins and a buffoon.
The whole country is in danger of going down on one economically disastrous knee.
If the powers that be really do want to start taking this seriously, then start showing some backbone.
And the next time protesters take to the streets during lockdown, needlessly diverting our emergency resources, I want to see our police force dispersing crowds swiftly.
If it means using batons, tear gas and water cannons then so be it. And if these morons still don't get it then employ the use of rubber bullets as well.
As for any abuse of human rights anyone might try and pull, sorry but these are unprecendented times.
If you take to the streets protesting en masse, during a pandemic lockdown, then you should forfeit any rights all the while you are there. And anyone who gets hurt and protests their innocence, tough. You shouldn't have been there in the first place then.

[Happy chappy]

To be honest i can't see how clubs at out level can survive without fans and match day revenue.

[Kebabus]

Here is something else I want to throw out there:
I wonder if there is a clause in players contracts that says, "no fans, no pay"?

I would think that the majority of clubs at our level will not be in favour of starting the season without fans unless there is a serious plan to subsidise the clubs?

What a contradiction at the moment, pubs, schools and cinema open but football stadiums at our level closed to fans - our stadium is well set up to encourage distancing and the walk-way around the terraces is ideal.

What a mess!!!!

[Ajaxman DFC]

Here is something else I want to throw out there:
I wonder if there is a clause in players contracts that says, "no fans, no pay"?

I would think that the majority of clubs at our level will not be in favour of starting the season without fans unless there is a serious plan to subsidise the clubs?

What a contradiction at the moment, pubs, schools and cinema open but football stadiums at our level closed to fans - our stadium is well set up to encourage distancing and the walk-way around the terraces is ideal.

What a mess!!!!

And in the wake of the pilot match on Tuesday, which was a success, it's a bloody insane situation of Pythonesque proportions.
You really couldn't make it up.

[The 5th Searcher]

Here is something else I want to throw out there:
I wonder if there is a clause in players contracts that says, "no fans, no pay"?

I would think that the majority of clubs at our level will not be in favour of starting the season without fans unless there is a serious plan to subsidise the clubs?

What a contradiction at the moment, pubs, schools and cinema open but football stadiums at our level closed to fans - our stadium is well set up to encourage distancing and the walk-way around the terraces is ideal.

What a mess!!!!

In regards to the first part of this posting regards no fans no pay, Duke mentioned on Tuesday night that he’d heard an interview which I think was with Tonbridge manager Steve McKimm who said they have it in their players contracts that if they play in front of no fans then their players don’t get paid and it is supposedly a Claus that quite a few clubs at this level have had written in to their contracts to try and help the clubs at this difficult time & possibly save them from going out of business.

How true this is I have no idea, may be Duke can clarify a bit better regarding the interview.

[Jonty]

Here is something else I want to throw out there:
I wonder if there is a clause in players contracts that says, "no fans, no pay"?
What a mess!!!!

I'm glad you said that Gregg because when I mentioned this last month, I got shot down on here!

We have possibly the strongest team I can recall at this level, even the player's that have moved on have been upgraded, quite incredible really. Yet, I can't help the feeling that this season will be a washout. Personally, I don't think you can have football at this level without supporters and I just hope that our players have something written into their contract's to safeguard the club's future against this possibility. In my view, it should be "no play, no pay if this happens.

Post by *?* » Thu Aug 20, 2020 7:19 am
So sign the players......& then don’t pay them??
Very Macclesfield/Ebbsfleet-esque!!

[Aprouddart]

The season may be able to start without fans but I cant see how it can possibly be viable to continue
for more that a month or two at all levels from EFL division 1 downwards. Also I cannot see how the
FA Cup can continue past its early stages.

I did see a report that most EFL clubs had built in Covid clauses to players contracts, so wages
would be cut by 50pct whilst fans were not allowed, hopefully we have done something similar
but i am not sure that will be enough to survive. I know we apparently got a grant/payment of
£ 15,000 but that only covers the revenue loss of approximately one home game. Hopefully
there will be some more assistance but I am not holding my breath.