The football dominoes that will fall because of covid-19

forevrared

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I think it might be Mark Cuban (the billionaire owner of the Dallas Mavericks) who seems to have committed to supporting the arena workers on hourly pay.
Zion Williamson has done the same now, hopefully it's a trend that catches on.
 

horsechoker

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Everyone at Barnet on notice

In light of recent events the Club would like to release the following statement.



We are in unprecedented times and as such, certain decisions have been made across the football group to ensure the longevity of Barnet Football Club.



Over the past few days, we have taken emergency measures to preserve the Club and ensure it remains sustainable.



Since relegation, we have seen a general drop in crowd attendances of 50%, whilst general costs have increased resulting in operational losses of approximately £100,000 per month.



The Club budgeted for this cost in the hope of promotion but of course, at the end of April, all of our parachute funding will cease and we need to therefore make savings accordingly.



In addition to these challenges, we have to consider the greater challenge of the impact that Covid-19 will have in the immediate and long-term future.



In order to meet the challenges ahead of us, we will have to dismantle our existing cost structure and look to rebuild for next season with a much leaner cost base.



We have therefore taken the difficult decision to put all Barnet FC staff on notice. This is to include all first team coaching and backroom staff, the Barnet FC Academy and many of the operational staff across all areas of the Club.




Having previously announced that all Academy funding the Club receives from the EFL comes to an end at the end of this season, Academy staff had already been made aware of the situation.



Supporters will understandably want to know how this situation affects our Head Coach, Darren Currie. Darren has a long notice period within his contract and as such, should the season resume, he will remain in charge until at least the end of the season and possibly beyond.



Club Chairman Tony Kleanthous said: “Our greatest concern is that within the UK and across the entire world, people are losing loved ones. Our sympathies and thoughts go out to everyone affected but right now, I have to focus my attention closer to home and look at the impact it’s having on our Club.



“It is my responsibility to ensure Barnet FC continues to survive and remains financially stable and therefore, I have had to make difficult decisions.”



Kleanthous continues: “I have to be open and honest with the staff and it’s been a difficult past few days having to deliver the bad news but it’s something that had to be done.



“I have not had time to think about plans for next season yet but we will have to find a way to move forward based upon our current crowd attendance because existing National League rules limit any signings we can make or players’ salaries we can commit to going forward.



“The knock-on effects are of course heart-breaking for me personally as I am fully aware of how this will impact my phenomenal team of hard-working support staff across the group.”



Much will become clearer in the weeks ahead and the Club will look to regularly update supporters as matters develop.



The Club will make no further comment at this time.
 

dumbo

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An interesting question was brought up on Arsecast the other day asking how can people be expected to pay the same ticket prices when most people will be taking a financial hit personally. Will people be able to afford thousands of pounds to follow their team if the economy is tanking?
 

horsechoker

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An interesting question was brought up on Arsecast the other day asking how can people be expected to pay the same ticket prices when most people will be taking a financial hit personally. Will people be able to afford thousands of pounds to follow their team if the economy is tanking?
I would say no, if teams don't offer a reduced price then they'll sell fewer tickets. However, clubs will need to make up the loss in earnings so they'll have to raise the prices.
 

Sandikan

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A high level of clubs have been teetering on the brink for a long time as it is. But without any game income, it's an absolute game changer.
Our chairman at Wycombe has said they are getting money from the league etc, but it's only money they'd have been getting at a later date. So while it's helpful, it's a very temporary solution, and doesn't actually resolve the problem, just postpones it.
 

Redcy

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A high level of clubs have been teetering on the brink for a long time as it is. But without any game income, it's an absolute game changer.
Our chairman at Wycombe has said they are getting money from the league etc, but it's only money they'd have been getting at a later date. So while it's helpful, it's a very temporary solution, and doesn't actually resolve the problem, just postpones it.
Yeah but according to the media, and indeed United board we can just play this season out and kill next season. It won't have any bad effect at all.
 

Sandikan

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Yeah but according to the media, and indeed United board we can just play this season out and kill next season. It won't have any bad effect at all.
The situation is so bizarre and unprecedented, that I dare say everyone involved keeps thinking they have the answer, and then they realise they don't and have to re-address.

Something along the lines of

*Oh Liverpool have basically won it, just award them it - But what about every other standing - how do you settle it clubs will sue.
*We'll promote Leeds n West Brom and have no relegations - how would a 22 team league work in a likely reduced timescale next season.
Why wouldn't clubs who are only 6-7 points behind get legal too? How can you have promos but not relegations - doesn't work at all.
*Closed doors - yes, but players and managers started getting it - it's still undoable
*Well, we'll get the league finished by June 30 - you won't, as there's no guarantee this virus has gone by then
*We'll play all the games left in a month - some teams might have 13-14 games left
*Scrap Europe? - Takes away a few games, but again how do you settle Euro places.

*We'll just re-start with this season's remaining games however late it goes
What about players going out of contract.
Sponsorships / kit changes
What if it's say the Autumn

*If it's the Autumn, we'll just play 2 months and massively reduce next season
*If it's as late as next spring, we'll scrap next season
*We'll lose 800m (or however much)
Scrapping next season to save this season seems to make no sense even on a money level. Clubs will fold, you'll barely be left with a professional game etc. Reducing next season just to get this season in seems to mess with two seasons.
You lose way, way more cancelling or reducing next season.


Every step of the way there's a solution, but all have fairly strong reasons why they don't work.
And until there's any sort of "this will be fine in 4-6 weeks", the players can't go back to what would in effect be a pre-season.

A real nightmare.
 

Redcy

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The situation is so bizarre and unprecedented, that I dare say everyone involved keeps thinking they have the answer, and then they realise they don't and have to re-address.

Something along the lines of

*Oh Liverpool have basically won it, just award them it - But what about every other standing - how do you settle it clubs will sue.
*We'll promote Leeds n West Brom and have no relegations - how would a 22 team league work in a likely reduced timescale next season.
Why wouldn't clubs who are only 6-7 points behind get legal too? How can you have promos but not relegations - doesn't work at all.
*Closed doors - yes, but players and managers started getting it - it's still undoable
*Well, we'll get the league finished by June 30 - you won't, as there's no guarantee this virus has gone by then
*We'll play all the games left in a month - some teams might have 13-14 games left
*Scrap Europe? - Takes away a few games, but again how do you settle Euro places.

*We'll just re-start with this season's remaining games however late it goes
What about players going out of contract.
Sponsorships / kit changes
What if it's say the Autumn

*If it's the Autumn, we'll just play 2 months and massively reduce next season
*If it's as late as next spring, we'll scrap next season
*We'll lose 800m (or however much)
Scrapping next season to save this season seems to make no sense even on a money level. Clubs will fold, you'll barely be left with a professional game etc. Reducing next season just to get this season in seems to mess with two seasons.
You lose way, way more cancelling or reducing next season.


Every step of the way there's a solution, but all have fairly strong reasons why they don't work.
And until there's any sort of "this will be fine in 4-6 weeks", the players can't go back to what would in effect be a pre-season.

A real nightmare.
You are right which is what I have been alluding too, I don't think we will know anything now until there is an "all clear". I don't think voiding next year for this year is sustainable, but by the time we come out of this thing we might have only two leagues worth of teams left viable of playing consistently. To me it seems clear we won't be over this before August now. With the most likely scenario being longer before we have mass events.
 

Sandikan

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You are right which is what I have been alluding too, I don't think we will know anything now until there is an "all clear". I don't think voiding next year for this year is sustainable, but by the time we come out of this thing we might have only two leagues worth of teams left viable of playing consistently. To me it seems clear we won't be over this before August now. With the most likely scenario being longer before we have mass events.
Yep - mass entertainment has to be at the absolute far end of the recovery process.
My lot in league 1, Wycombe, our owner has said we're getting league payments paid, but these are only what we'd have got in due course anyway.

So they fix an immediate problem, but are in effect only postponing this.
They need some sort of boost from the top level really, unless that government 80% wage thing helps at all. As at league 1 and 2 level, wages are more of a "normal" people level than higher up. And it needs to be remembered that a lot of staff are admin, and other such stuff, it's not all about the players.
 

Redcy

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Yep - mass entertainment has to be at the absolute far end of the recovery process.
My lot in league 1, Wycombe, our owner has said we're getting league payments paid, but these are only what we'd have got in due course anyway.

So they fix an immediate problem, but are in effect only postponing this.
They need some sort of boost from the top level really, unless that government 80% wage thing helps at all. As at league 1 and 2 level, wages are more of a "normal" people level than higher up. And it needs to be remembered that a lot of staff are admin, and other such stuff, it's not all about the players.
Just to note players cannot play at all or work if they are being paid the 80%. Apparently part of the scheme is that you must be out of work because of the coronavirus. Happening at the place I contract for, lots of people being "benched" and doing no work, but get the 80% pay.
 

Sandikan

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Just to note players cannot play at all or work if they are being paid the 80%. Apparently part of the scheme is that you must be out of work because of the coronavirus. Happening at the place I contract for, lots of people being "benched" and doing no work, but get the 80% pay.
Just one of the many things to resolve.
It depends if they can't train as well I suppose, as that is their work as such.
 

Pexbo

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I reckon Barcelona are going to be in big trouble.
 

Pexbo

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What makes you say that?
Nearly €900m debt to service, huge wages and reliance on TV money and match day income (same as all clubs) and despite nearly a billion in revenue they made only 17m profit in their last account statement.
 

Mb194dc

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Nearly €900m debt to service, huge wages and reliance on TV money and match day income (same as all clubs) and despite nearly a billion in revenue they made only 17m profit in their last account statement.
Yes, massive cost cutting will be needed if they can't play for months and months.

All clubs going to be effected by this, so transfer market will deflate significantly, as will wages when contracts renewed. Clubs simply won't have the money to pay what they did before. How much it deflates will depend on how long there isn't football for.

Especially if this season isn't finished, all clubs will need to pay back broadcasters money for games which they haven't played. Was talk the premier league clubs would have to pay back £752m, amounts would also be large in other leagues. Clubs will also have been budgeting money from UEFA games which they also may not now get.

For fans I don't think it's a big deal, the game is a simple one, 22 guys kicking a ball around. So if transfer values and player wages go down 50% for 5 years we'll still be able to enjoy watching. Personally think money actually ruined football in some ways in the last 20 years anyway. More of a problem for the owners and / or shareholders if clubs have them.
 

Yik

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I assume teams have suspended regular trainings as well? I wonder how a massive break of 6-7 months without matches or training will impact players. I mean its a bit of a novelty 2 weeks in, with players exercising at home or what not, but a few months in, I reckon clubs are going to be massively impacted in terms of players not being match fit, losing focus, tactics, etc. It would require a normal pre season break of a couple of months I reckon to get them back up to speed but would the sponsors and owners really go for that?

Elite football is a well oiled machine. A massive break would mean every player is going to have the fitness/mentality of somebody coming back from a leg break or something like that.

I cannot imagine Liverpool for example pressing with the same intensity from game one. So for me the biggest domino is going to be the teams themselves. It might prove to be a situation where the elite teams aren't that much better than the average ones. Would be fun to watch if so.
 

mu4c_20le

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Liverpool fans just need to accept that it's over. Either they are gifted the title, or if the fixtures were to be somehow played out in the future, it will be a tainted title with an asterisk. It will not be the same season at all and finishing it will just be a sort of formality.
 

Redcy

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I assume teams have suspended regular trainings as well? I wonder how a massive break of 6-7 months without matches or training will impact players. I mean its a bit of a novelty 2 weeks in, with players exercising at home or what not, but a few months in, I reckon clubs are going to be massively impacted in terms of players not being match fit, losing focus, tactics, etc. It would require a normal pre season break of a couple of months I reckon to get them back up to speed but would the sponsors and owners really go for that?

Elite football is a well oiled machine. A massive break would mean every player is going to have the fitness/mentality of somebody coming back from a leg break or something like that.

I cannot imagine Liverpool for example pressing with the same intensity from game one. So for me the biggest domino is going to be the teams themselves. It might prove to be a situation where the elite teams aren't that much better than the average ones. Would be fun to watch if so.
Yes there are no regular training sessions from what I have heard, and with the latest enforcement by police in the UK I can't imagine they would be excluded from meeting up, etc, until those rules change.

My daughter swims competitively, the coaches estimate they will need one month plus one week per month they are away to get back to any kind of fitness. So that should give some kind of idea.
 

Mb194dc

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More dominoes going.

Bordeaux shirt sponsor Bistro Regent suspends their contract. PSG could be next, main shirt sponsor is Accor hotels.

UEFA presumably going to halt FFP as almost all clubs will probably be in breach of the regulations in the current period due to revenue loss. Could make a mockery of the City FFP case as well.

https://www.espn.co.uk/football/bor...sponsor-suspends-deal-amid-coronavirus-crisis