Season should be finished behind closed doors - Barnsley FC head coach Gerhard Struber

BARNSLEY FC head coach Gerhard Struber is supporting calls to finish the season behind closed doors in the summer - and believes it represents the only realistic way of ensuring that the 2019-20 campaign reaches a full conclusion.
Gerhard Struber. PICTURE: TONY JOHNSON.Gerhard Struber. PICTURE: TONY JOHNSON.
Gerhard Struber. PICTURE: TONY JOHNSON.

English football is suspended until at least April 30 amid the coronavirus pandemic, which has ensured the shut-down of sport across the globe.

The EFL and Premier League are in ongoing discussions regarding the next steps regarding fulfilling the season's remaining fixtures and ensuring the sporting integrity of competitions is safeguarded and Struber feels that it is unrealistic to expect games to be staged until June at the earliest.

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Equally, he is adamant that the season should not be declared null and void - even if abandoning it could have positive ramifications for Barnsley, who prop up the Championship table and would be spared from relegation if 2019-20 is expunged from the record books.

Oakwell, home of Barnsley FC.Oakwell, home of Barnsley FC.
Oakwell, home of Barnsley FC.

Struber, speaking to the media via Skype from his home in Austria, said: "I think health is the most important thing in this moment. When it is clear, it is very important for many clubs that we must play without supporters in the next few months (when football resumes).

"I think this is not a surprise and in this new life with social distancing, it is normal that we play in the next few months without supporters.

"This is not easy and a completely new situation for me and for everyone. But it is necessary for the clubs. The clubs need money and when we don't play, it is the worst case for the clubs in the future.

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"It is the safest situation for players and staff without supporters. Behind closed doors is not easy, but we have to do it this way.

"I prefer that we regulate on the field, I hope so. In the nine games, we have the chance to come out of the (relegation) zone and I trust my boys and believe we can do it. When the league is cancelled, it is clear that every result has no value and this is a hard situation for many clubs."

Across the country, many clubs are placing non-playing staff on furlough leave as they wrestle with the economic implications of Covid-19, with significant pressure also being placed on playing and coaching staff at clubs to also take wage cuts or deferrals to ease the game's growing financial crisis - with many in society believing they have a moral obligation to do so.

Struber expects that will become a reality for his staff and players in the weeks ahead as clubs take cost-cutting measures to support their business.

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"It is a very difficult and tough situation for the whole world and the economic and financial system," the Austrian added.

"Right now, we don't exchange (wage cuts/deferrals) in this case. But it is normal when we have no games in the next few months that we need a plan in this case.

"It is no topic right now. But we don't play games in the next few months, it is a topic for everyone in the club to help the club have a good future."

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