EFL 'deeply frustrated' with supporter ban, warning clubs could require a £250m financial bailout

Rick Parry has revealed the English Football League are “deeply frustrated” with the ban on supporters and warned that clubs could require a financial bailout of up to £250 million.

Parry, the EFL chairman, has ramped up the pressure on the Government and the Premier League to provide financial support for the 72 clubs, with many in the lower leagues struggling to avoid meltdown due to the loss of revenue.

Clubs are facing the prospect of being without supporters until March next year due to tough restrictions imposed by the Government following a rise in coronavirus cases.

The EFL is understood to be considering the option of commercial loans if no bailout is forthcoming, with talks ongoing with both the Government and Premier League.

But Parry has delivered a blunt assessment of the battle ahead for clubs outside the Premier League in a strongly worded statement.

He wrote: “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.

“Therefore, as a matter of urgency we now need to understand what the Government’s roadmap is for getting supporters back into stadiums as soon as it is deemed safe to do so.

“With extended measures introduced, it is imperative that the financial issues facing our clubs are addressed quickly.

“EFL clubs lost £50m last season as a result of playing matches behind closed doors or curtailing the season and stand to lose a further £200m in 2020/21 should we be required to play the whole season without supporters in grounds.

“I am encouraged that the Government has recognised the need for urgent financial assistance for sport and discussions will continue with DCMS and the Premier League.

“We remain optimistic that a solution will be found but we should also be very clear that if it is not, then the outlook for many clubs in the period ahead will be very challenging.”

It was initially proposed for fans to return to grounds on October 1, with a number of clubs staging “pilot” events last weekend with 1,000 supporters allowed into stadiums.

But the steep rise in Covid-19 cases has ensured a drastic rethink and Prime Minister Boris Johnson admitted that the new restrictions could remain in place for six months.