Christian Burgess explains why talk of Portsmouth completing the season is farcical

The Pompey defender is adamant football issues have to take a back seat while the focus is rightly on battling through the Covid-19 pandemic.

But Burgess is fearful for the plight of clubs and the threat to their existence as they struggle financially with the season at a standstill.

The 28-year-old is staying active in the community through the suspension to the football campaign.

That’s seen him volunteering his services for local causes, which has proved an eye opener.

Burgess said: ‘You're meeting people who, if we're honest, are scared and anxious to leave their house because at the end of the day lives are on the line here.

‘It's terrible, having a devastating impact.

‘You go from that to talking about the season not being finished or contract situations being uncertain. It's just farcical, you know? It's just complete opposite ends of the spectrum.

‘It brings it home how lucky we are as footballers, but also how serious it is in the real world at the moment.

‘That's why I'm obviously so keen to try and put any of the time that I now have free to good use.’

Pompey are in a robust financial condition to take on the challenges they face to continue operating through the crisis, but other outfits in the Football League and beyond are facing an uncertain future.

Burgess added: ‘Ticket revenue is massive for a lot of clubs and we're lucky at Portsmouth with the backing we have from our owners and the profit we made recently is fantastic for us.

‘But some of the other clubs, perhaps the smaller clubs, aren't in that same position, so are really going to struggle.

‘It's going to be tremendously sad if we lose football clubs throughout the period.’

Burgess has joined Pompey team-mates in helping out with the link up between Pompey in the Community and HIVE Portsmouth to deliver food parcels to those in need across the city.

He’s also involved with Heart of Hayling Boxing Academy and the Hayling Helpers who are delivering prescriptions to those in need across the island.

Burgess said: ‘It's probably a few days a week.

‘I did look at Portsmouth to try and see what was there and it's all started now, really, so a couple of the boys are helping out as well as myself to deliver food from Pompey in the Community's hub across Portsmouth.

‘I pop over to Hayling two or three times a week to do the same with the prescriptions.

‘It's just sort of mixing my time. We're not at work, so there's plenty of free time.

‘I'm just trying to keep fit on the side, go for runs and cycles and stuff, and other than that, I've got a lot of free time on my hands.

‘It's so rewarding as well, personally, you know? It's brilliant to think that you're helping out. I've met a lot of fantastic people.

‘The Hayling Helpers are just a brilliant bunch and I met some fantastic women the other morning in the kitchen (with Pompey in the Community), who were volunteering, giving up their time, just going there from nine until two just cooking.

‘I think we did 100 meals - I say we, they did most of it, I just helped prepare a bit of the vegetables, so I don't want to take credit.

‘They're amazing, they're doing that every day, Monday to Friday.

‘There are just brilliant people out there and that's one of the great things.

‘If you get involved, you meet all these people and you do a bit of good as well.’