Premier League says discussions continue regarding financial needs of Championship clubs after agreeing a bailout for League One and League Two clubs
Wednesday 14 October 2020 18:21, UK
Six Championship clubs have told Sky Sports News that if there is no financial bailout forthcoming, they fear for the survival of their club.
In a survey carried out by Sky Sports News, eight clubs also say they have, or will have to, make club staff redundant.
On Wednesday, the Premier League announced a "rescue package" for League One and League Two clubs - consisting of grants and interest-free loans totalling a further £50m on top of the £27.2m solidarity payments already advanced - but said discussions are ongoing regarding Championship clubs' financial needs.
In a statement the Premier League said: "League One and League Two clubs rely more heavily on matchday revenue and have fewer resources at their disposal than Championship or Premier League clubs and are therefore more at risk, especially at a time when fans are excluded from attending matches."
One Championship club has told Sky Sports News: "Our survival is absolutely reliant on a financial support package, there is only so much longer we can continue like this."
Speaking before confirmation of the Premier League's bailout for League One and League Two clubs, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said that he had received assurances that no EFL club would be allowed to go into administration.
"Just to be clear, I have had the assurance, from the EFL, that they would not allow clubs to go bust in the short run," said Dowden, who was questioned by The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Wednesday.
"That is not a Government assurance, that is assurances I have received from the sport."
Eight Championship clubs also said they are losing between 15-40 per cent of their revenue due to the loss of matchday income while games continue to be played without fans. That figure does not include direct gate receipts.
Two Championship clubs told Sky Sports News their survival was not dependant on a bailout and redundancies were not being considered, with a number also declining to comment.
Clubs are able to defer PAYE payments to HMRC until the end of this year and stadium rent can also be put on hold until January.
But one club official warned that it was "kicking the can further down the road and each time we kick it gets bigger".
Dowden insisted that given Premier League clubs had spent more than £1 billion during the summer transfer window, a deal for the English top flight to provide support to benefit the wider football pyramid was there to be reached.
"The way that football can demonstrate it can governance itself well and properly is to get this deal over the line which is there to be had," Dowden, who confirmed the Government would not help finance the proposed bailout, said.
"Whereby the Premier League uses its wealth to support the wider football family which is common in other countries and the EFL also comes properly to the negotiating table rather than being distracted by projects like this."
