Peterborough owner Darragh MacAnthony's demand with Portsmouth, Sunderland, Ipswich Town and other EFL clubs in crisis

But the Peterborough owner’s insistent clubs like his aren’t looking for a bailout from the state to keep them alive.

MacAnthony is calling for action after the decision was taken to ‘pause’ the return of supporters to games.

That decision has left EFL members in a perilous state, although the Irishman isn’t looking for gifts but a structured deal for repayment,

He told Sky Sports News: ‘If the UK government want to sort this, I’ve said this for a long time, it’s time for them to write a cheque. They’ve got to do it right now.

‘The clubs have to look after themselves and their fans who bought tickets.

‘We’ve been waiting for a Premier League deal and an EFl deal for five months now - and I don’t think it’s on the horizon.

‘I saw a Premier League manager talking about it last night and comparing it to stockbrokers having to look after each other.

‘That’s wonderful for the football family with the £250m he gets a year.

‘We’re not asking for a bailout we’re asking for money we’ll pay back down the line.

‘We’ll even pay interest - but we need a deal done.’

MacAnthony remains unequivocal in his view there’s no reason why football fans shouldn’t be returning to games, even in the face of a second wave of Covid-19.

If that’s not to be the case then he feels government action is necessary for an industry which is a revenue driver for the economy and corner of our communities.

He added: ‘There’s no reason we shouldn’t have 3,000 or 4,000 back at Peterborough United - and it should be this Saturday.

‘For me, the government needs to start writing cheques for football.

‘I know people say that sounds horrible and it’s taxpayer money - but something needs to be done.

‘The money we bring into the economy and industry, people need to remember that, it’s essential they now stand up.

‘If they want our fans to stay at home, they’re going to need to write us cheques for that.’A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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