Project restart discussion.

[boris]

Huddersfield owner Phil Hodgkinson warns '50 or 60 clubs' could go bust

The English football pyramid will be destroyed unless the game starts to plan beyond the 2019-20 season, says Huddersfield owner Phil Hodgkinson.

www.bbc.co.uk

English football's pyramid will be destroyed unless the game starts to plan for the financial impact of Covid-19 beyond the 2019-20 season, says Huddersfield owner Phil Hodgkinson.

Hodgkinson thinks as many as "50 or 60" clubs could go bust.

He says he is looking at a "worst-case scenario" of no fans allowed in stadiums for the 2020-21 season.

"The problem is not whether we finish [this] season or not, it is what happens after that," he told BBC Sport.

Having previously owned National League North side Southport, Hodgkinson has experience of the hand-to-mouth existence of many lower-league clubs.

"If we don't come to an agreement there will be no football pyramid. There are clubs I know of that are only still trading because they are deferring wages and [tax] and other creditors. They will need paying at some point," Hodgkinson said.

"There is an absolutely real, stark probability that if something isn't agreed now within football to ensure all clubs can pay their bills and get through to the point where income is resumed, you will be looking at 50 or 60 clubs ceasing to exist. Genuinely, I am talking about that many."




For anybody wondering why they really want to restart.

I know for certain more clubs will go to the wall in the EFL if they restart. 95% of clubs in league 1 & 2 can’t afford to play BCD, they’re desperate for it to be cancelled. There’s many reasons for this, some many people haven’t even considered.

 

[Goat]

I know for certain more clubs will go to the wall in the EFL if they restart. 95% of clubs in league 1 & 2 can’t afford to play BCD, they’re desperate for it to be cancelled. There’s many reasons for this, some many people haven’t even considered.

I doubt The EFL will resume this season.

 

[mccole]

I doubt The EFL will resume this season.

If they don't then Premier League clubs will want relegation taken off the table because why should they be relegated for a clubs to replace them who haven't gained promotion.

The big point will be to curtaining the league because they will have to relegated and promote so they will use points per game.

Another point clubs will vote for. Ideally for the bottom 6 they will want the league curtaining/voided/ended with no promotion but that is so far away unless a 2nd Wave comes.

 

[boris]

The big point will be to curtaining the league because they will have to relegated and promote so they will use points per game.

Another point clubs will vote for. Ideally for the bottom 6 they will want the league curtaining/voided/ended with no promotion but that is so far away unless a 2nd Wave comes.

I don’t think it’s as far away as you think, they’ve admitted they’re discussing it this week and the PL top man admitted last week is still on the table. They’re starting to drop it in a bit more recently from initially saying it’s not on the table.

For me, it’s still clearly the favourite and the only out come I can see.

 

[Goat]

I don’t think it’s as far away as you think, they’ve admitted they’re discussing it this week and the PL top man admitted last week is still on the table. They’re starting to drop it in a bit more recently from initially saying it’s not on the table.

For me, it’s still clearly the favourite and the only out come I can see.

You think the league wont be restarted?

 

[boris]

You think the league wont be restarted?

I don’t mate, no. I think it’s done.

The only hope they have to continue it to take relegation off the table and I don’t think they can do that cause EFL clubs will challenge it.

I 100% think it’s done and it’ll be curtailed / cancelled with no relegation and no champions. European places and prize money will be awarded on PPG & even though that could be challenged, I think the majority will accept it.

 

[Joeharper07]

I don’t mate, no. I think it’s done.

The only hope they have to continue it to take relegation off the table and I don’t think they can do that cause EFL clubs will challenge it.

I 100% think it’s done and it’ll be curtailed / cancelled with no relegation and no champions. European places and prize money will be awarded on PPG & even though that could be challenged, I think the majority will accept it.

I don’t get were your optimism for 100% curtailment comes from , there back training , full contact soon and the majority of the high street now will be open before the bcd starts , the driving force behind this has been the huge sums of money that the clubs are losing and need . If cancellation / curtailment comes along what’s this prize money that’s going to be distributed surely that’s the money they get off sky / bt / overseas . Personally in my opinion it’s 85% going to get done unless a huge second lockdown arrives

The EFL are sadly in a worse predicament and the only way they will get by is a bail out either by government ( highly unlikely ) , the FA or possibly the PL but they do need reform especially the championship which is takes huge gambles and debt to reach the holy grail of riches . The squad salary cap per division makes sense and would love to see that come in across all leagues inc PL as every increased deal just results in player and agents getting more yet grass roots football suffers , I’ve long been a believer in ring fencing a percentage of every tv deal for use on grass roots football inc lower league , we’ve the richest league in the world but it’s just a pack of cards once a spanner is thrown in the works that’s why finance is sadly the main driver behind it carrying on and we’ve got next season to worry about after this one .

 

[B17BLG]

I don’t get were your optimism for 100% curtailment comes from , there back training , full contact soon and the majority of the high street now will be open before the bcd starts , the driving force behind this has been the huge sums of money that the clubs are losing and need . If cancellation / curtailment comes along what’s this prize money that’s going to be distributed surely that’s the money they get off sky / bt / overseas . Personally in my opinion it’s 85% going to get done unless a huge second lockdown arrives

The EFL are sadly in a worse predicament and the only way they will get by is a bail out either by government ( highly unlikely ) , the FA or possibly the PL but they do need reform especially the championship which is takes huge gambles and debt to reach the holy grail of riches . The squad salary cap per division makes sense and would love to see that come in across all leagues inc PL as every increased deal just results in player and agents getting more yet grass roots football suffers , I’ve long been a believer in ring fencing a percentage of every tv deal for use on grass roots football inc lower league , we’ve the richest league in the world but it’s just a pack of cards once a spanner is thrown in the works that’s why finance is sadly the main driver behind it carrying on and we’ve got next season to worry about after this one .

When is the high street opening? His would surely be more morale boosting to the UK population.

I think his optimism comes from even when the high street does open, there will be social distancing enforced. Yet footballers are jumping all over each other in a nothing competition.

The easiest and safest solution would be to offer sky and BT the remaining games as free fixtures next year and they can pick and chose as the season goes on.

 

[Minimeister]

When is the high street opening? His would surely be more morale boosting to the UK population.

I think his optimism comes from even when the high street does open, there will be social distancing enforced. Yet footballers are jumping all over each other in a nothing competition.

The easiest and safest solution would be to offer sky and BT the remaining games as free fixtures next year and they can pick and chose as the season goes on.

Joe's spoken to the vast majority of football players mate and they all want to come back as soon as possible.

 

[H.H.]

Joe's spoken to the vast majority of football players mate and they all want to come back as soon as possible.

Has it been proved that a vast majority of players don't want to play (or even a small majority?)

 

[Minimeister]

Has it been proved that a vast majority of players don't want to play?

I think it will be if things progress.

 

[Goat]

I don’t mate, no. I think it’s done.

The only hope they have to continue it to take relegation off the table and I don’t think they can do that cause EFL clubs will challenge it.

I 100% think it’s done and it’ll be curtailed / cancelled with no relegation and no champions. European places and prize money will be awarded on PPG & even though that could be challenged, I think the majority will accept it.

I personally see not a single obstacle in the way of this restarting middle of June personally.

So far only 2 players have refused to play, nothing will stop this, IMO.

 

[boris]

Training will get voted back in, shops will open, fingers crossed loads of things move on as it means we’re getting back to normal and I expect they will but all that matters to each club is what’s best for them. Make no mistake about it as soon as the talks eventually stop and they have to ask the question......are clubs prepared to resume playing in a different format to the one they started the season with, they won’t get 14 clubs saying yes.

It’ll go the exact way the vote on considering playing BCD at neutral stadiums went, the majority will vote against it.

Resuming training is looking to be trying to do the right thing, they’ll all vote for that. Ultimately there’s only question to be answered and the clubs themselves make that decision no one else.

The relegation threatened teams have been thrown a lifeline and unless relegation gets taken off the table they’re not going to let it go.

 

[Joeharper07]

Joe's spoken to the vast majority of football players mate and they all want to come back as soon as possible.

You only have to use them things either side of your head and your eyes to accept the vast majority do unless there telling porkies if you don’t think I’d like to see evidence even our own captain has said it .

 

[H.H.]

I think it will be if things progress.

It looks like it's gonna be 4 weeks before the P/L starts again so if things go well?