WE need fans through gate to help pay our bills says Dewsbury Rams chief Lee Greenwood

Dewsbury Rams head coach Lee Greenwood feels that it could prove “impossible” to restart the Betfred Championship campaign.
Actions from Fax v Dewsbury Rams, at The Shay Stadium.  Dewsbury Rams coach Lee GreenwoodActions from Fax v Dewsbury Rams, at The Shay Stadium.  Dewsbury Rams coach Lee Greenwood
Actions from Fax v Dewsbury Rams, at The Shay Stadium. Dewsbury Rams coach Lee Greenwood

A meeting between the RFL and clubs from the Championship and League 1 on Wednesday established two working groups which will look at the feasibility of playing matches behind closed doors.

High-level sport in England will be allowed to return on June 1 but no date has been specified for the return of rugby league and Greenwood believes that resuming the season under current circumstances could prove a logistical nightmare. The majority of rugby league clubs are heavily reliant on matchday revenue and Greenwood feels resuming behind closed doors while paying players their full wage could be a challenge for most clubs.

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“It is the logistics of it all as well, the virus hasn’t gone away, there are still hundreds of people dying everyday and people who have still got it,” Greenwood said.

Actions from Fax v Dewsbury Rams, at The Shay StadiumActions from Fax v Dewsbury Rams, at The Shay Stadium
Actions from Fax v Dewsbury Rams, at The Shay Stadium

“For any resumption, we would all need to be tested regularly because you are coming into contact in training and in games.

“If anyone does test positive, they will then have to go to hospital or self isolate and then anyone who has come into contact with them will need to self isolate as well. The logistics of it is just going to make it impossible, almost, for our level.”

One of the working groups has been set up to consider how clubs could offset the costs associated with playing behind closed doors.

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Greenwood added: “At our level, the crowds are such a big factor. Clubs at all levels, not just Championship and part-time, will factor in the gate receipts to the pound and the penny a lot of the time. That money will be absolutely needed just to keep clubs afloat.

“If clubs have to start playing without any gate receipts coming in, then they might not be able to survive.

“At our level, we probably couldn’t afford to play one game behind closed doors and have to pay everyone fully again. I just don’t think it would happen.”

Meanwhile, Featherstone Rovers head coach James Webster feels the Premier League will provide the “learning curve” for other sports as governing bodies explore a return to action.

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He also admitted that if the Premier League is unable to continue, other sports have little chance of doing so.

He said: “The Premier League will be the big learning curve for everyone. If the Premier League is able to get it done, we will be able to understand the costs and the logistics needed. If they can’t get it done, it is pretty obvious that there are not too many sports who can get back.”

Even though the Government has sanctioned the return of sport on June 1, Webster feels July will be the earliest when rugby league can resume.

He added: “I think July will be earliest, if that. It is fantastic that we are going to start trying to move forward.”

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