FA chairman issues worrying statement about future of clubs and leagues

All football has been suspended indefinitely including Chesterfield’s National League season. No decision has been made yet as to how it will resume if it is not scrapped.

The financial impact of the virus has been huge with clubs in the top flight and those lower down the football pyramid, including the Spireites, having to furlough staff, players and management with no money coming in.

The Premier League has announced a £125m relief fund for the Football League and National League but this money is an advance on solidarity payments, parachute payments and academy grants that clubs would have received in the summer and is not extra cash.

“Football faces economic challenges beyond the wildest imagination of those who run it,” Mr Clarke said.

“We face the danger of losing clubs and leagues as finances collapse. Many communities could lose the clubs at their heart with little chance of resurrection.”

Mr Clarke said the FA is “committed” to finishing the season as this resolves the issues of promotion and relegation together with title winners “on merit” but said this might not be possible “as football is not our priority, human life is.”

Mr Clarke also said that players, clubs, fans, owners and administrators within the game “need to step and share the pain to keep the game alive.”

He warned that they must come up with a contingency plan, adding: “We must have a plan to ensure that English football is not decimated should this season be lost and next season blighted. Those that lost their clubs because English football did not rise to the challenge would rightly judge us harshly.

“Time is pressing as football burns through its cash reserves with no sign yet of a resumption of the game. Pointing fingers serves no purpose.

“It is time for the stakeholders to agree common cause to save our game. Contribute. Football is a team game and now is the time for teamwork.”