EFL clubs need more support from the government | Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan

Portsmouth Football Club is losing more than £700,000 a month due to restrictions on fan attendance, and I know the club was particularly disappointed to see the pilot restricted fan attended fixture against Wigan Athletic cancelled last month, which was ultimately played behind closed doors.

EFL clubs lost £50m of gate income in the 2019/20 season by playing matches behind closed doors (Championship) or curtailing the season (Leagues One and Two) and will lose a further £200m if crowds do not return during the 2020/21 campaign.

And as we know, EFL teams typically have a higher dependency on ticket, confectionary and merchandise sales.

But while the Premier League has provided a £250m emergency support package for the EFL, the Premier League alone cannot be expected to provide the urgent support that is required. The EFL now urgently needs the government to step in and offer the support and guidance it needs.

It is becoming increasingly untenable for Pompey to be expected to continue operating without further government support.

It’s why the comments made by the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in June that football should ‘support itself’ through the coronavirus pandemic is completely absurd.

As I have said before, our football club’s success is our city’s success. EFL clubs are intrinsically part of the fabric of their communities. Whether that be through the jobs or income the club brings to the local economy, or the fantastic work of the community foundations like Portsmouth’s very own Pompey in the Community (PiTC).

If the government is serious about ‘levelling up’, it will provide the financial support and clarity EFL clubs like Portsmouth urgently need, and I vow to continue to take action to help the club and fellow fans.