Finances key behind contrasting futures of Premier League and Leagues One and Two

Clubs in England’s bottom two divisions will meet today, when they are expected to accept defeat in their efforts to play the campaign’s remaining matches. Thoughts will then turn to how – or if – to decide the final placings, and whether to award promotion or relegation. The outcome – which may not come today – will have repercussions for clubs lower down the pyramid, including Harrogate Town, Halifax and York City.

With a huge number of players out of contract in June, and most of their income dependent on matchday revenue which has been non-existent since the coronavirus caused the suspension of matches in mid-March, it does not make financial sense to keep fighting against the tide, despite the problems abandonment will cause.

The situation is reversed higher up, with the leading clubs mainly subsidised by television revenue and needing to try to play to protect that, even without spectators.

Without giving details, the Government hinted protecting that revenue could provide a lifeline to some of the lower-ranked clubs.

Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Oliver Dowden held “positive” talks with the football authorities yesterday, and said afterwards: “We all agreed that we will only go ahead if it is safe to do so and the health and welfare of players, coaches and staff comes first.

“The government is opening the door for competitive football to return safely in June. This should include widening access for fans to view live coverage and ensure finances from the game’s resumption supports the wider football family.”

The “roadmap” the Government published on Monday outlining its plans to ease the lockdown suggested elite sport could be played for broadcast in step two of their plan, which is due to start no earlier than June 1.

Solidarity payments ensure £400m of the Premier League’s multi-billion-pound broadcast deals go to Football League clubs, but £270m is given to those – including Huddersfield Town – relegated from the top division over the last three years. Football League chairman Rick Parry criticised parachute payments as “evil” to a House of Commons select committee last week.

Whether the distribution of that money would change in a resumed season is unclear.

There are still considerable logistical and political difficulties in resuming the Premier League and Championship seasons, not least the increasingly vocal concerns of high-profile footballers.

Whatever is decided in terms of how Leagues One and Two are resolved is likely to have an impact on the National League, which has been awaiting a Football League decision before making their own. The regular seasons in tiers five and six have been abandoned, but the prospect of play-offs has not been ruled out, causing uncertainty for clubs such as Harrogate, Halifax and York who could be involved.

Doncaster Rovers manager Darren Moore believes the season should be declared “null and void” if a full programme of matches cannot be completed, but the Football Association prefers a resolution based on “sporting integrity”. That could be decided on the present table, points per game or a weighted system which takes into account how many of each club’s remaining fixtures were due to be played at home.

Any outcome other than “null and void” would lead to promotion for League One side Rotherham United, but Doncaster and League Two Bradford City remaining in their divisions.

Editor’s note: First and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

Almost certainly you are here because you value the quality and the integrity of the journalism produced by The Yorkshire Post’s journalists - almost all of which live alongside you in Yorkshire, spending the wages they earn with Yorkshire businesses - who last year took this title to the industry watchdog’s Most Trusted Newspaper in Britain accolade.

And that is why I must make an urgent request of you: as advertising revenue declines, your support becomes evermore crucial to the maintenance of the journalistic standards expected of The Yorkshire Post. If you can, safely, please buy a paper or take up a subscription. We want to continue to make you proud of Yorkshire’s National Newspaper but we are going to need your help.

Postal subscription copies can be ordered by calling 0330 4030066 or by emailing [email protected]. Vouchers, to be exchanged at retail sales outlets - our newsagents need you, too - can be subscribed to by contacting subscriptions on 0330 1235950 or by visiting www.localsubsplus.co.uk where you should select The Yorkshire Post from the list of titles available.

If you want to help right now, download our tablet app from the App / Play Stores. Every contribution you make helps to provide this county with the best regional journalism in the country.

Sincerely. Thank you. James Mitchinson, Editor