Orient (Home Sat 14/3/2020 - MATCH OFF)

Not life as we know it, not for a while. And certainly not in wat that football will matter.

Many businesses are going to go under, and the economy will be impacted in a way we've never seen. The only silver lining might be the fact that the impact will be global, so theres a shared interest in protecting and then supporting economic recovery.

 

Businesses that have the option of staff working from home will soon have to do so. And any non essential work may have to stop for a few weeks, with government measures implemented to support people and businesses financially. But it's going to get messy

 

It will be extremely foolish of any Bradford City fan or any supporter of their club not to be concerned about the bigger impact of this virus.

Nobody knows when we will return but my point is some seem to be thinking that the fans have to be there. No, football is miles better with fans but football is a business, it's people's jobs and we need to all try to continue to do our jobs. We need to try to carry on as normal or it will be dark messy days.

My fear is we feel we need the fans to play football and honestly with that mindset and this virus or could be years before football restarts again and that will mean clubs will go under and Bradford City could be one of them for sure.

 

Yes until I or any of my family become infected. Then its self isolation as you well know.
What about you?

 

I work in a senior role for a company who employs around 600 people. I won't say what we do, but we're considered to be part of the country's critical infrastructure and I'm the deputy chair for our Emergency Planning Committee. We've been preparing for weeks and last week we ramped up the way in which we're dealing with it. All our teams have been divided into two halves - teams A and B. Week 1, team A works in the office, with team B working from home, then theres a deep clean of the office and Team B do the second week. Within a fortnight we expect everyone will be working from home. We're as well placed to deal with events like this as anyone, but many are either ill equipped or simply not in a position to work differently. I have a close friend who's been with a firm for 10 years but doesnt get sick pay. His wife is a self employed childminder, so again if she has to isolate then she doesnt get paid. Many will be in a similar position.

 

Yes and that's the point I am trying to make.

Sport will have to decide if they want fans or not. I have snooker on now and no fans there. Sport can continue as I say its people doing a job.

Fans have more things to worry about.

This isn't going away so the sporting world will soon have a massive decision. Rich individual sports like golf are fine. F1 is fine.

Football is different as you could stop the PL for a year or 2 and it's fine. The EFL wouldn't be fine.

Think people think this is going to be a week thing.. NO! It months if not years and that's why I am saying football might need to forget fans at lower level and play matches or clubs will go out of business.

Forget next season. A plan needs to be for this season and a little bit of normality for the clubs.

 

In reality, I would prefer a football club to go under, including mine, then the death of fellow human beings. It really is only football at the end of the day.

 

Well it not. It's a business and people's wages.

I understand your point but don't see football as a hobby it's not. It's a business

 

Bradford City are not one of the lower league clubs likely to under imho.

We should be more concerned with smaller clubs, the Lancashire towns weren't faring well anyway.

Sport will be vital in re-energising folk once this blows over.

Never underestimate the importance of entertainment. It's as vital a resource as anything else for all sorts of reasons, but mental well being, community spirit, and cultural morale are some biggies.

 

Delusional if you think div 1 or 2 clubs won't struggle if this continues for a long period.

Football is a business. Yes it entertains people but it's a business first of alll now and this will effect clubs.

 

How did I say clubs won't be affected?

Were you replying to my post, or someone else's?

 

You said Bradford City are not one of the clubs likely to go under?

My point is that we all div 1 and 2 clubs are business. No one knows when the season will start again or when next season will start but like any business it has costs and if no money is coming in such as match revenue in football then clubs will suffer.

So at this point with hearing nothing from the EFL clubs like ours and others are losing income and players getting wages for nothing.

Every financial expert says div 1 and 2 clubs will struggle unless solutions are found.

 

Not too sure what they could say Rocket
I think there is no alternative but to finish this seasons fixtures however long it takes
This would of course Impact on next season which I can see being an abridged version maybe as someone suggested earlier teams play each other once (a fixture planners worst nightmare)
quite how that would affect seasons ticket holders (already purchased) expecting to see the full quota of home matches I don't know
Quite a conundrum whichever we you look at it

 

You talk like sportspeople are immune to this.

How would you feel being forced to attend training knowing half the team was infected.

Give your head a shake.

This event will re shape football for a very long time.

 

Quite right. And more than just football. Life might be very different for all of us for several months at least

 

No they're not immune but they do a job like you.

A job that can be done behind close doors if required.

 

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Completely different view. This season will finish in the next two/ three weeks. There will be no promotion or relegation. There will be no financial support from the PL. As Adrian Chiles said on 5 Live yesterday "If you think the PllL will give support, think again". They stand to loose £750 mil TV money . Today Jet2 turned every flight to Spanish territory from UK round mid flight. I'm due to my house there in a week, no chance. This carnage is going to last til the start of next season or October in my view. There will be significant casualties but I think if anyone can grip it Dave Baldwin can and will come June when he starts at EFL