Charlie Methven reveals the substantial seven-figure sum Sunderland will lose if the season is played behind closed doors

Charlie Methven says Sunderland face net losses of up to £7million if the entire League One season is played behind closed doors.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

But the club’s co-owner insists that the Black Cats are in no danger of ‘going to wall’ after the club’s current ownership adopted an ‘ultra-cautious’ approach.

As revealed by the Echo earlier this month, Sunderland were facing losses of over £250,000 per game this season after plans to welcome back supporters from October 1 were paused indefinitely.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And with no date for the return of supporters currently set, clubs are having to adjust their financial forecasts accordingly.

Sunderland co-owner Charlie MethvenSunderland co-owner Charlie Methven
Sunderland co-owner Charlie Methven

For Methven and Sunderland, that means adjusting to a £7million net drop in income.

“You have got the lost gate money, no corporate hospitality, lost retail sales on match day, and there is the week to week loss in conferencing,” he explained, speaking to The Mirror.

“For us, add those things together it is £9m a season lost revenue. There are reductions in cost for not holding games, stewarding, policing, litter picking. So it is net, about £7m.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Despite that substantial drop in income, Methven insists the Black Cats are in no long-term danger.

But he feels the government’s approach could see some clubs facing troubled times.

"Back in April, May clubs thought: Let's grit our teeth and get through,” he continued.

"Dig into reserves and our pockets, this could be a short term thing.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Once the government has decided, with no scientific basis whatsoever, they are banning you from making your revenue, it would be foolhardy to say month after month, year after year we are going to keep carrying this cost base, while being banned from doing what our business is.

"Unless they wake up very very quickly there are going to be some historic football club names going to the wall.

“Sunderland won't be one of them. We have been ultra cautious in the way we set the club up.

"But other clubs will be and through no fault of their own. It is nothing to do with overspending. They had every right to expect to have the ability to get paying spectators in, and when the government changes the law, the impact has to be recognised.”

A message from the Football Clubs Editor:

Hi, our aim is to provide you with the best, most up-to-date and most informative coverage of YOUR club every single day, home and away, 365 days a year.

This depth of SAFC coverage costs, so to help us maintain the high-quality reporting that you are used to from the football team at the Sunderland Echo, please consider taking out a subscription to our new discounted sports-only package.

Your support is much appreciated.

Richard Mennear

Football Clubs Editor