With no football taking place and the media having a different spin on what might happen, we caught up with the CEO David Bottomley for an update as to what is and might be happening.
We’re hearing lots of stories in the media about the season ending now or being voided, games behind closed doors and a possible return to regionalised football. What discussions are taking place at this moment, and what is our preferred choice?
We are, and have been, in constant contact with the EFL throughout. In League One, we have two great main EFL Board members (Jez Moxey – Burton and Steve Curwood – Fleetwood) and from the very start of the lockdown, League One has been the far better organised division of the EFL. We have weekly meetings via Microsoft team, and every meeting has been attended by Rick Parry, Chair of the EFL. John Smallwood and I have been the RAFC reps on every single call, and we have participated in every debate.
Also, in February I was selected to join a small group of people from EFL 1 & 2 to form a working party regards Salary Cost Management Protocol. That group has met often during the last 5 weeks and we submitted our proposals to clubs on 24th April, with clubs having to have cast indicative votes by 29th April. All in all, Dale feel very much part of EFL 1&2 and a solidarity with the EFL in all their negotiations with PFA.
The voice recording leak last week was from one club’s PFA rep, and this followed a briefing by his club captain who is one of 6 Captains in EFL to have had meetings with Rick Parry and the EFL Board.
The situation for a number of weeks is that
- EFL been planning a return to training on 18th May , that date is key as allows 3 weeks mini pre-season, and full completion of current season by 31st July, that is the key date, as after that date players are out of contract (and there are almost 1,500 across the EFL ! , yes that’s is a true stat and its 21 per club ). After that date the key phrase “integrity of the Competition“ goes out of the window as clubs would have to field Youth Team players.
- If current season does resume it would be behind closed doors
- The regionalised football comment is not an EFL view and is not even a discussion point.
- As a club we are firmly behind the EFL as a collective, and we have great solidarity in League 1 and we will abide by majority decision, but our own views are to end the season now, and award promotion and relegation on a points per game basis.
- Like other clubs, we face the significant issue if the season does resume (behind closed doors) of all the associated costs but none of the normal revenues. Also, we have season ticket holders who would miss 6 games!
There has been talk that supporters may not be able to attend matches until 2021. Is this realistic?
Yes, the 2021 scenario is accurate. Sports that play in front of mass gatherings will likely be the last to come fully out of lockdown. This information is very much in the public domain now, but like every one of us in society, we await more from the Government.
There were extensive plans for the pitch in place for this Summer. Is there any chance of it still happening whilst there is such uncertainty?
Pitch – yes we are despite the difficulties planning on the pitch renovation etc. We simply must do this. The pitch currently looks fantastic, but as the saying goes “all that glitters is not gold“ and we have still have the problems of what lies beneath.
Obviously like all clubs, our finances will be taking a massive hit with next to no income at this moment in time. How long can we withstand this before it becomes a real risk to the future of the club?
Being totally honest, I have personally never worked harder in my life but I am (alongside a great team of John Smallwood, Frances Fielding and Nick Grindrod our external accountant) working 12 hour plus days , taking into account every single possibility and eventuality, as yes we face a long period with potentially either reduced levels or no income at all.
Everything we do is behind the mantra of RAFC having been around 113 years , and want that to continue for at least another 113 years , and please be rest assured that the group and the board at the club are acutely aware of the issues and through weekly Board Meetings, we are planning to get through the pandemic and come out the other side intact as an EFL 1 club, Sadly a number of clubs are not in the same situation and we fear there may be significant casualties
The PFA have now appointed Deloitte to help them review the information that the EFL have presented to them on club finance – we have been a part of this and has entailed a huge amount of work – and will form next round of negotiations with PFA but will be done individually with clubs, and not collectively.