Why the latest word from the EFL camp will be of concern to Sheffield Wednesday

The bombshell was dropped by Ben Robinson, chairman of Burton Albion, who said that EFL chairman Rick Parry had suggested clubs should prepare for the possibility of gateless fixtures running into next year.

“There is a lot of uncertainty. We don't know when the season will be concluded, if it is,” Robinson told Sky Sports.

“An even bigger concern is about next season. In the meeting yesterday, Rick Parry, the EFL chairman, said that he thought the season might not start until next year when the games are played with fans attending. You can imagine the financial implications of that are considerable.

“He didn't think crowds would be in stadiums until 2021, that was his personal view. It could take as long as that to get gate receipts flowing back into clubs.”

The latest publicly available accounts for Sheffield Wednesday show that some 37 per cent of their income is derived from matchday revenue.

Whatsmore, a deal on player wage deferrals is yet to be met with the PFA. A number of clubs in the Championship are yet to strike a deal, despite a proposed 25 per cent deferral in League One and League Two.

The same set of Owls accounts – for the 2017/18 season – reveal that 168 per cent of that total income is spent on player wages, though that wage amount is understood to have been reduced.

It is as of yet unclear whether the EFL’s profit and sustainability rules will be relaxed this season in order to allow cash injections to take up the shortfall.

There is also huge uncertainty over whether the Championship will be voided or cancelled as the coronavirus crisis rumbles on.

With more leagues considering such action, a UEFA statement revealed that the body are reviewing a rule that prevents clubs in cancelled leagues from entering European competitions including the Europa League and Champions League.