LONDON: Huddersfield Town owner Phil Hodgkinson said up to 60 English lower league clubs could go out of business if the sport fails to plan for the impact of COVID-19.
“The problem is not whether we finish (the) season or not, it is what happens after that,” Hodgkinson told the BBC. “If we don’t come to an agreement there will be no football pyramid.”
Championship (second tier) clubs are due to return to training in small groups on Monday, with hopes of completing the season behind closed doors.
“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,” he added.
Hodgkinson said the worst case scenario would be playing next season without fans allowed to attend matches, leaving many clubs without their major source of income.
Clubs are already facing significant expenditure for COVID-19 testing while the English professional football has been suspended since March.
“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,” said Hodgkinson.
