Most EFL clubs regard themselves as being in a weaker financial position than in March when lockdown was imposed and Leagues One and Two were curtailed. That allowed clubs to furlough most of their staff and take advantage of deferments on VAT and PAYE payments, as well as fees to the league.
Advances in payments from the EFL and solidarity payments from the Premier League also helped them to stay afloat. The decision to end the League One season early saved Bristol Rovers around £500,000.
Over the past six weeks staff were redeployed in the expectation that substantial crowds would be returning from October 1st. It was hoped that 30 per cent of stadium capacity could be used which would be near average attendances for some lower league clubs. However, that hope is now very much in doubt. If crowds were limited to 1,000, it would hardly offset the resultant increase in overheads.
Costs are ramping up again with HMRC looking for its deferred money along with the regular payments. Money from the leagues, which would be arriving now, has already been allocated.
In the Championship, Sheffield Wednesday's income will drop by £500,000 a match without fans. For Bristol Rovers with average gates of 8,000 the drop in income is about £150,000 per game.
A few clubs have had lucky windfalls. Exeter City will get more than £3.5m from a sell on clause for Olliw Watkins who moved from Brentford to Aston Villa for a fee of £28m. The money should see the Grecians through the winter and beyond.
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