Fan blog: £250m bailout package for EFL can't come soon enough as Sunderland and clubs face having no fans inside stadiums

Sunderland's 1-0 victory against Peterborough United on Saturday was set to be the last behind-closed-doors.
Josh Scowen sees an effort saved in the 1-0 win over Peterborough United.Josh Scowen sees an effort saved in the 1-0 win over Peterborough United.
Josh Scowen sees an effort saved in the 1-0 win over Peterborough United.

Home comforts would return for the Black Cats' match against Blackpool on October 10th, albeit only around 11,000 to 12,000 Sunderland supporters would be able to socially distance themselves inside of the Stadium of Light.

The club had already began arranging the bubbles for supporters, and fans had chosen between a pro-rata refund or a streaming pass, on the basis that they would be allowed back into the Stadium of Light in October.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

This wasn't just the Black Cats who had started planning how supporters returning to football would look like, although clubs had different approaches, all of them would have had the same attitude towards the news on Tuesday that those plans were to be postponed.

Then, on Saturday, the EFL chairman explained that it was possible fans wouldn't be able to return until March at the earliest.

Every club and supporter is aware of the dangers that COVID-19 has brought over the past six months, but for some lower league clubs, the postponement of fans back at football could be fatal.

Fleetwood manager, Joey Barton, labelled the block on fans as an ‘impending armageddon’, while even lower down the football pyramid, the impacts will be felt.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The impact for some clubs won't just be because of the lack of fans; the lack of commercial income, such as hospitality and advertising, will be absolutely devastating for some lower-leagues clubs, with the Premier League and the EFL thinking about a £250 million bail-out package.

Despite everyone's frustrations that they will not be able to back at football stadiums to see their side in the next couple of weeks, let's hope that this won't affect the Lads.

- Do you fancy writing a Sunderland AFC fan blog for the Echo? To get involved simply email 300 words on an SAFC topic of your choice and we’ll publish the best. Something to get off your chest about transfers, Phil Parkinson’s tactics or the takeover? Email [email protected] with your fan blog.

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.

You'll find all the details at sunderlandecho.com/subscriptions/sports.

Your support is much appreciated.

Richard Mennear