Cracks are appearing in the world of football - opinion

With no guidance from the Government as to when the coronavirus lockdown will end it is only to be expected that some in the community will get nervous about the future as it might affect them.
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Unsurprisingly the apprehension has been shown by those who are less able to ride out the storm.

Some clubs in the National League’s regional divisions seem prepared to join those at lower levels whose season has already been wiped from the record books. That will naturally cause friction with their fellow clubs who would be adversely affected by the FA’s null and void decision. That matter might yet go to court.

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It would be an unwelcome outcome if the unity and camaraderie that permeates the game at both club and supporter level was put into jeopardy by some clubs feeling obliged to pursue a different conclusion to their fellows. The main thing troubling those clubs wishing for a prompt end to the torment is finance.

Lee BowyerLee Bowyer
Lee Bowyer

SEE ALSO £40k mark passed as Sussex football fundraisers run for NHS heroes | 'Everybody will be ready' - Crawley Town boss looking forward to getting back in action | Crawley Town boss Yems: 'We have all got to pull together' | Crawley Town to donate more than 2,000 tickets to key workersAs I have said before there is lots of money in the game but it isn’t spread very evenly. Mind you it is clear that an unequal division of wealth is, and has always been, the way of the world. It will take more than this crisis to change that aspect of society.

The passage of time without playing has exacerbated the problem for those clubs whose financial base is less than healthy. Some have been spooked by the increasing likelihood that football could resume behind closed doors.

Marking time with no match day income, perhaps with staff on furlough, is one thing but picking up the traces and the incipient threat of uncovered expenditure is another. I have thought from the outset that a number of clubs at all levels of the pyramid would not survive a long term suspension.

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The case was most cogently put by Andy Holt, the owner of Accrington Stanley - a club renowned for prospering despite one of the tightest budgets in the game. He reasons it could cost Stanley as much as half a million pounds to complete the season without any income and he would be prepared to opt out.

Now Charlton Athletic manager Lee Bowyer has expressed a very negative view of his club’s ability to resume playing. He picked out aspects that might not work rather than considering how he might overcome them. If the suspension is not lifted he will be alright. After all a pessimist is never disappointed.

The game is in danger of having more losers than winners whatever officialdom decides.

Football doesn’t work like that when games actually take place. I was gratified to read that the idea of results being decided by a new “Pools Panel” has surfaced as it was one of my thoughts right at the start.

The inequity that exists between top and bottom in our beloved sport will be highlighted in the next few weeks and the revelations won’t be pretty.