Government told ‘not long left’ as Hawks and fellow non-league clubs wait for financial help

Hawks are still waiting to discover what financial support they will receive as they prepare to start their 2020/21 season behind closed doors.
As Hawks wait for news of any government financial help, the club's new 3G pitch is being laid ahead of this weekend's FA Cup tie with Horsham at Westleigh Park. Picture: Sarah StandingAs Hawks wait for news of any government financial help, the club's new 3G pitch is being laid ahead of this weekend's FA Cup tie with Horsham at Westleigh Park. Picture: Sarah Standing
As Hawks wait for news of any government financial help, the club's new 3G pitch is being laid ahead of this weekend's FA Cup tie with Horsham at Westleigh Park. Picture: Sarah Standing

The government’s announcement last week that the pause button was being pressed on allowing fans to return to ‘elite’ league stadiums was a bombshell to National League clubs.

Even though they play at the sixth tier of English football - where most clubs are part-time - National League South outfit Hawks are grouped in with the Premier League clubs as ‘elite’ level.

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That means Westleigh Park must remain empty as long as Anfield and Old Trafford also remain bereft of supporters.

A close-up view of Hawks' new 3G pitch being laid ahead of next weekend's FA Cup tie with Horsham. Picture: Sarah StandingA close-up view of Hawks' new 3G pitch being laid ahead of next weekend's FA Cup tie with Horsham. Picture: Sarah Standing
A close-up view of Hawks' new 3G pitch being laid ahead of next weekend's FA Cup tie with Horsham. Picture: Sarah Standing

The National League have asked the government for financial help ahead of their season starting this Saturday.

While the top flight clubs begin with league matches, the South and North clubs start their competitive season with FA Cup second qualifying round ties.

Hawks are hosting lower division Horsham on their new 3G surface at Westleigh Park, but behind closed doors. Had the tie been played at Horsham, fans would have been allowed in.

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Though no actual figures are known, it is understood the National League have asked the state to provide a multi-million pound rescue package for every month that games are played in front of empty stands and terraces.

That could well be six months, resulting in a rescue package of over £20m.

Two former FA chairmen have signed a letter sent to culture secretary Oliver Dowden pleading for the government’s financial assistance.

Lord David Triesman and Greg Dyke have been joined by other high-profile figures, including Lord Faulkner of Worcester, a vice president of the National League, Sunderland co-owner Charlie Methven, former Welsh international Robbie Savage and a handful of MPs.

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The government are keen to see the cash-rich Premier League dip into their deep pockets to help out the 72 EFL clubs.

But they are being warned they cannot keep on asking the Premier League to solve problems caused by government policy.

In the letter, Dowden is told: ‘There is still time to act, but not long left.

‘The government made £1.5 billion available to rescue arts and cultural organisations across the country that faced closure because of the coronavirus.

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‘We believe that football, like other well-loved professional sports in this country, is also a cultural activity.

‘We would ask that the government now make clear what financial support it is prepared to give before it’s too late.

‘In particular, we believe that in order for clubs to sustain themselves and keep playing, they would need to be compensated for the loss of match-day ticket sales.

‘The absence of this income is not a result of their actions, but of the policies that have been put in place by this government in response to a public health emergency.

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‘We understand that you hoped the Premier League clubs might make a significant additional contribution to support the EFL.Whilst this would be welcome, those clubs too face swingeing losses from lost ticket receipts and falling revenues from broadcasting matches.

‘However, it cannot be the Premier League’s sole responsibility to sort out issues arising from government policy.

‘The government itself needs to take responsibility or many already-embattled towns - often in areas of the country that have suffered many hardships in recent decades - will lose their last focal points.’

Hawks’ National League South rivals, Eastbourne Borough, have admitted they could fold unless they receive financial aid.

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CEO John Bonar is adamant his club should not be lumped in with the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United.

After all, while the Premier League clubs each received over £70m from television money in 2019/20, clubs in the sixth tier banked just £13,500 each from the top flight’s ‘solidarity’ payment of £125m to the EFL and National League.

‘Has Eastbourne Borough more in common with Manchester City, or with Chichester City?’ Bonar asked.

‘Even on a good day, our gates barely touch four figures. You can do a complete circuit of the ground, during a match, without physical contact with another human being! We have space to spare.’

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That is certainly true. Last season Eastbourne only averaged 546 - Hawks averaged around 1,400 - yet they find themselves grouped with a club that averages over 73,000 (Manchester United).

Clubs like Hawks and Eastbourne have been left frustrated by the moving of the goalposts.

Originally given October 1 as a date when they could expect to see crowds return, albeit at a limited level, non-league clubs spent money ensuring their grounds were Covid safe.

‘We were given specific rules to follow, and we followed them,’ said Bonar.

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‘We have spent thousands in the process. We take temperatures and mobile numbers. We have signage everywhere. We disinfect religiously.

‘We were given clear pointers towards October 3 as our re-opening date, and that has now been snatched away.

‘Most ludicrously of all, the very same stadium where the tenants, Langney Wanderers, can legally play is barred to the landlords! It’s disgraceful.’

Back in July, the National League’s ‘elite’ status allowed Hawks to compete in the play-offs behind closed doors. Now, the same ruling is stopping them from welcoming any fans back at all.

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That means, at present, the first game at Westleigh Park in 2020/21 where spectators will be allowed in is Clanfield’s Hampshire Premier League game with Paulsgrove on Saturday, October 17.

‘The Elite definition means that your employees earn most of their income through football,’ said Bonar. ‘Not true, for virtually all of our players. The classification happened without our knowledge.

‘In the summer, the biggest clubs in the National League, the division above, were desperate to fulfil their play-offs, and so keep their automatic promotion to the EFL.

‘We had no issue with that. But nobody told us about the elite status that came with it.

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‘If Government ministers seriously think we are elite or elitist, I openly invite them to take a Priory Lane tour. They will find us friendly, homely, busy, down to earth and passionate about what we are.

‘There won’t be an elite person in sight. In fact, they’ll need to give me notice as I might be up a ladder fixing the dodgy gutter on the Mick Green Stand!’

But the economics of this crisis are no joking matter. ‘We have bills to pay and players to pay. We have running costs for the stadium, the grounds, the clubhouse.

‘Our two major sources of income are the bar takings – drastically down – and our gate receipts – nil.

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‘It’s stark and simple. Without paying spectators, we cannot survive. We would be faced with resigning from National South, and taking the large fine, and disbanding the first team.

‘Then for season 2021-22, we would re-apply to join another suitable league, possibly the Isthmian League.’

It’s not just clubs at non-league level, though, that will struggle if they have to carry on playing behind closed doors.

Rotherham United chairman Tony Stewart said: ‘We’re in the Championship and we are going to lose probably £3-4million. Is that sustainable? No it isn’t.

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‘I can see a lot of clubs in League One and Two, if no money is forthcoming and the close-down remains with regards to fans, there will be a lot of clubs, even in the Championship, that will go into administration.

‘That’s the message I gave in March or April this year. I don’t think the EFL has been inactive, all I’m saying is we’re in the dark. We don’t know what’s happening week on week.

‘I know it’s difficult and we’re all in it together, but clubs in League One and Two, and some in the Championship, have no income and yet we’re still playing the games.

‘The Government and the Premier League and the EFL need to get together and realise the dire consequences that are out there.’

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Stewart is concerned that there is a general misconception, shared at a political level, that English football has plenty of money to cope with the crisis.

‘The problem is, and it’s not just MPs, a lot of people think there’s a lot of money awash in the sport,’ he added.

‘They watch the Premier League and hear about Chelsea spending £200m and (Gareth) Bale getting £600,000 a week.

‘But they’re not looking into it as deep as they should. Take the Premier League out of the equation and the EFL is in dire straits.’

Football is by no means the only sport suffering either.

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The Rugby Football Union have also said they will be looking for Government support in light of the renewed restrictions on spectators.

And Leicester chairman Peter Tom expects Gallagher Premiership clubs to fold as a result of new restrictions on crowds that also threaten the future of English professional rugby.

Tom admits the outlook is bleak.

‘This is a disaster for Premiership Rugby and all the clubs involved,’ he said.

‘I’m very worried about what the future for English professional rugby is. Nobody will be able to sustain this.

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‘Premiership clubs will go out of business. The whole of the Premiership would be threatened.

‘Certain clubs have a different structure in the shape of an owner with lots and lots of money. But for the rest, these are brutal times.’

Up north, rugby league received a £16m Government loan in May to deal with a disrupted Super League season, with games behind closed doors and the fixture list decimated by positive coronavirus tests.

Now the owner of Hull FC rugby league club, Adam Pearson, wants more state aid urgently.

‘We definitely need more support,’ he said.

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‘When the Government came out and said that six months was the new time limit, it’s obviously caused us huge problems.

‘People won’t buy season tickets in December 2020 for the 2021 season, so there’ll be no money coming in to the rugby clubs, it’s completely stopped that.’