Football league suspended until April 4th

[TrevorFitzpatrickHattrick]

Thought 1

We have a serious chance that the EFL season will now be terminated in full on the 3rd of April. If they delay the season again on this date for 4 weeks. Clubs will not be not only be able to pay players, but won't have players to play as contracts will be finished and none of them will stay as we simply don't have the money to pay them.

Thought 2

The loan RM has been trying to arrange. This loan would simply not be possible. Anyone in there right mind willing to loan SUFC / RM money right now would be simply stupid.

BUT

Is this actually a bad thing for us? I believe this is going to effect numerous amounts of EFL clubs. Potentially any side in the bottom 4 - 6 of the Championship, L1 & L2. Surely the EFL can't allow this to kill the whole 92 structure and will at some point have to get involved and actually Corona Virus could be a life saver for SUFC?

Some really good points there. However, I wouldn't rely on the EFL to do anything constructive to help or assist given their abysmal track-record. If I was to go total conspiracy theorist, maybe lower league clubs going bust helps the greedy Prem get what they want... U23 teams in the in the top-4 leagues.

 

[kentblues]

I don't think training ground visits means no training. I think it's people like you and me visiting the training ground.

In which case players training will pass the virus amongst the team, coaches, other staff and come April 3rd squads will be potentially decimated. I would have thought no training- but maybe its left to the clubs- what if some train some don't- a club or clubs that do continue train get to April 3rd and have 3 fit players and the EFL try to restart?? Do they get docked 12 points for failing to fulfil the fixture?

 

[kentblues]

No way can they contemplate declaring the season null and void or terminated at a given point. Legal minefields for promotion and relegation issues. It will all start again in April if necessary behing closed doors with two games a week to catch up.

At the peak of the outbreak or just before? Who can they play? What if large numbers of the squad are either ill or in quaranteened/self-isolated? Can they be forced to play if not, they have families? What if they haven't been paid? If a club badly effected by the virus goes from mid table to relegation, and other leagues are at the same time suspended, then there is there a stronger legal case than any.

Unprecedented situation - I would rule anything out or in.

 

[londonblue]

In which case players training will pass the virus amongst the team, coaches, other staff and come April 3rd squads will be potentially decimated. I would have thought no training- but maybe its left to the clubs- what if some train some don't- a club or clubs that do continue train get to April 3rd and have 3 fit players and the EFL try to restart?? Do they get docked 12 points for failing to fulfil the fixture?

I'm not arguing the rights or wrongs. I'm merely pointing out I think you misinterpreted what was said.

 

[C C Csiders]

At the peak of the outbreak or just before? Who can they play? What if large numbers of the squad are either ill or in quaranteened/self-isolated? Can they be forced to play if not, they have families? What if they haven't been paid? If a club badly effected by the virus goes from mid table to relegation, and other leagues are at the same time suspended, then there is there a stronger legal case than any.

Unprecedented situation - I would rule anything out or in.

Sorry Leeds you are not going up to the Premier League. No Liverpool the title is not yours. Tough Barrow you can't have your League place back. Won't wash.

 

[kentblues]

I'm not arguing the rights or wrongs. I'm merely pointing out I think you misinterpreted what was said.

Appreciate that- I think they do mean suspend training however, so we read it differently. We will see soon enough I guess though.

 

[kentblues]

Sorry Leeds you are not going up to the Premier League. No Liverpool the title is not yours. Tough Barrow you can't have your League place back. Won't wash.

I know it would be very unfair on them. Very. I guess the refuge will be in the competition rules that everyone has in effect signed up to.

 

[Napster]

Do the refs get paid?

 

[Jai]

Thought 1

We have a serious chance that the EFL season will now be terminated in full on the 3rd of April. If they delay the season again on this date for 4 weeks. Clubs will not be not only be able to pay players, but won't have players to play as contracts will be finished and none of them will stay as we simply don't have the money to pay them.

Thought 2

The loan RM has been trying to arrange. This loan would simply not be possible. Anyone in there right mind willing to loan SUFC / RM money right now would be simply stupid.

BUT

Is this actually a bad thing for us? I believe this is going to effect numerous amounts of EFL clubs. Potentially any side in the bottom 4 - 6 of the Championship, L1 & L2. Surely the EFL can't allow this to kill the whole 92 structure and will at some point have to get involved and actually Corona Virus could be a life saver for SUFC?

The EFL aren't the ones winding us up. HMRC are and we owe them a lot of money.

 

[Smiffy]

If there was ever a time for Ron to come out with an honest and truthful statement of exactly what this now means for the club, it is now.

No lies, no bull****, tell it how it is.

 

[kentblues]

This is a good article on the subject

British football suspended amid coronavirus threat, so what happens next?

The Premier League is suspended, Euro 2020 is destined to be moved until next summer - but what about titles, contracts and much more...

theathletic.co.uk

 

[Floval Flyer]

Not trained for weeks? Back to the Powell/Bond times then.

and Nile Ranger !!

 

[SheldonW65]

IF there is an suspension of EFL games until at least 4th April. That means Southend will miss out on two pretty big home games v Bolton and Sunderland. Both, particularly Sunderland would of generated large sums of matchday income. That would be disastrous and possibly fatal...

Ron needs to sink that huge investment into the club sharpish. Although I do worry in the current climate how on earth he will find anyone to borrow from.

As said above, the only answer is an emergency relief fund made available to clubs in need. Not as if the EPL/FA/EFL/Government don't have the resource.

Although obviously this is very concerning. Could it actually be a blessing in disguise?...will it reduce the heat from HMRC/EFL regards non-payment of wages/tax enabling us more time to resolve and reduce/delay/remove any subsequent sanctions they were considering.

Sunderland was 99% certain to be called off anyway as it's international week, it would have been a bloody Tuesday night so we were always going to lose out there.

 

[BriggBlue]

If there was ever a time for Ron to come out with an honest and truthful statement of exactly what this now means for the club, it is now.

No lies, no bull****, tell it how it is.

I'm guessing he'll be trying to figure it out, ones things for sure if there was anyone remotely interested in investing in any club right now will be waiting to see how things shake out.

Just a random thought but if the players have to self isolate do they get their full wages or will they drop to statutory sick pay?

 

[RHB]

Do the refs get paid?

With some of the decisions against us this season, I'd say it's highly likely that they do.

 

[Chairman Trigg]

No way can they contemplate declaring the season null and void or terminated at a given point. Legal minefields for promotion and relegation issues. It will all start again in April if necessary behing closed doors with two games a week to catch up.

Not if half the players are ill, and the country is in lock down.What if the groundsmen are ill or coach drivers...... Just not as simple as turn up and play. It quite clear that schools will shortly be closed nearer Easter, as Barling said shut down is probably two weeks earlier than needed for the peak infection period. Don't forget clubs have duty of care for their employees

 

[SheldonW65]

If Ron really thinks he can raise enough cash to capitalise the club through to the end of the 2020/21 season and pulls it off then it won't affect us that badly, in fact it could work in our favour, deep breath, regroup, go again.

 

[kentblues]

Not if half the players are ill, and the country is in lock down.What if the groundsmen are ill or coach drivers...... Just not as simple as turn up and play. It quite clear that schools will shortly be closed nearer Easter, as Barling said shut down is probably two weeks earlier than needed for the peak infection period. Don't forget clubs have duty of care for their employees

What is odd is surely if playing behind closed doors was the likely option to complete the season then you would be getting on with doing that now?? it would be far easier than in April/May/June which is where when according to all experts they expect most cases and therefore squads most likely to be worst hit?

 

[Evening Echo]

THE EFL are meeting this morning to discuss the possibility of suspending the competition due to outbreak of coronavirus.

More...

 

[ItsMichaelBlack]

Human life is more important than football , relegation and promotion.
Jesus Christ.
People are dying from this worldwide and so many are making this suspended football thing a huge deal. Human life more
Important than money. These
Footballers anyway that are not getting paid make more than 100k a year at
Lower
Level and surely got savings and other investments if they have been smart.
More
To life than football right now.