Coronavirus

[jacobncfc]

If it's the government that are going to stump up money to get National League seasons going, I'm sure that League 1 and 2 must have some thoughts on that! Are they also getting a similar package?

By the way, streaming makes you absolutely fuck all. Some clubs will probably even make a loss on it.

Does it really cost that much? We’ve done all our friendlies and the trophy game for free and they’ve been decent quality, but may be that we already have all the equipment etc.

 

[Monkey Tennis]

Does it really cost that much? We’ve done all our friendlies and the trophy game for free and they’ve been decent quality, but may be that we already have all the equipment etc.

Somewhere I've seen the figure that it costs about £20,000 to set up - equipment, making your website capable to carry it, probably staffing costs to deal with enquiries too. But there will be some clubs that only get about 50-100 people streaming the game, at the cost of a tenner (in EFL the clubs don't get all of that) - so it won't be easy to make that money back.

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

The NL are meant to advocate for clubs, that's literally part of their remit. No shortage of lobby groups for the hospitality industry pressuring the government all the time but throughout all of this the FA and NL have been remarkably timid.

Correct, and I said as much further up the thread. They and the FA should be lobbying hard for the return of at least a percentage of fans. It’s in the event of that not happening that I wonder what they’re supposed to do.

Clubs like Notts pretending that streaming is the answer to everyone’s prayers is the pie in the sky bit.

 

[karlready]

Somewhere I've seen the figure that it costs about £20,000 to set up - equipment, making your website capable to carry it, probably staffing costs to deal with enquiries too. But there will be some clubs that only get about 50-100 people streaming the game, at the cost of a tenner (in EFL the clubs don't get all of that) - so it won't be easy to make that money back.

O.k., maybe someone on here can come up with an alternative.Taking into consideration those clubs that would get a low uptake of streaming,presumably that would be a reflection of their usual attendance, and historically they should have budgeted accordingly. With decent marketing, it would be possible to attract a lot of “away” spectators - for example, time doesn’t allow me to attend distant away matches, and certainly not midweek aways. But I would always watch a streamed game, and there will be plenty of others.The key is decent coverage and fair pricing.[/QUOTE]

 

[Fyldefan]

Not at all, cock-waving chairmen at certain clubs asked for Elite status, and got it. I didn’t hear much dissent at the time from supporters, or indeed, other clubs unaffected by play-offs.

Absolutely spot on

 

[Ellis]

It doesn't cost £20,000.00 to stream lol.

 

[Aberstone]

O.k., maybe someone on here can come up with an alternative.Taking into consideration those clubs that would get a low uptake of streaming,presumably that would be a reflection of their usual attendance, and historically they should have budgeted accordingly. With decent marketing, it would be possible to attract a lot of “away” spectators - for example, time doesn’t allow me to attend distant away matches, and certainly not midweek aways. But I would always watch a streamed game, and there will be plenty of others.The key is decent coverage and fair pricing.

The alternatives have already been presented - either the FA/Government (at this point I don't know whose decision is final and binding) let supporters in or the government should be prepared to cover the lost earnings.

On streaming, I'm of the opposition opinion, somebody who would be prepared to attend the distant away matches in person but really not keen on watching a stream at home, personally I'd rather go to a local game where spectators are permitted.

 

[Ellis]

The alternatives have already been presented - either the FA/Government (at this point I don't know whose decision is final and binding) let supporters in or the government should be prepared to cover the lost earnings.

On streaming, I'm of the opposition opinion, somebody who would be prepared to attend the distant away matches in person but really not keen on watching a stream at home, personally I'd rather go to a local game where spectators are permitted.

Big fan you are.

 

[karlready]

The alternatives have already been presented - either the FA/Government (at this point I don't know whose decision is final and binding) let supporters in or the government should be prepared to cover the lost earnings.

On streaming, I'm of the opposition opinion, somebody who would be prepared to attend the distant away matches in person but really not keen on watching a stream at home, personally I'd rather go to a local game where spectators are permitted.

The government are telling the general public not to assemble in groups. There is no way that they could allow ( notoriously unruly ) football crowds, without popular condemnation. Again, football’s image is such that any use of public money would be surprising ,and actually, shocking.
I’m not over-keen on streaming either, not an “armchair”fan of any sport. But IMO, unless we bite the bullet and get the season rolling, a number of clubs will go over the cliff-edge.

 

[EnglishRed]

Somewhere I've seen the figure that it costs about £20,000 to set up - equipment, making your website capable to carry it, probably staffing costs to deal with enquiries too. But there will be some clubs that only get about 50-100 people streaming the game, at the cost of a tenner (in EFL the clubs don't get all of that) - so it won't be easy to make that money back.

Are you talking about Barrow here?

 

[Aberstone]

Big fan you are.

Shareholder of the club and only missed 1 league fixture last season, proper part-timer me...

What I've said isn't unreasonable, streaming is a means to end but it's sanitised, I can't sing/vent my anger/celebrate without looking like a weirdo. Half of the fun about getting promoted was visiting plenty of new grounds (train, beer, football) - streaming will be a necessity but all of that enjoyment is taken away. When I can view updates on Twitter and watch a live local game when we're away, personally that's a more attractive alternative.

karlready's response to mine is fair and it's a real quagmire for the National League because they can't unilaterally serve the interests of all their member clubs.

 

[Jerry]

Shareholder of the club and only missed 1 league fixture last season, proper part-timer me...

What I've said isn't unreasonable, streaming is a means to end but it's sanitised, I can't sing/vent my anger/celebrate without looking like a weirdo. Half of the fun about getting promoted was visiting plenty of new grounds (train, beer, football) - streaming will be a necessity but all of that enjoyment is taken away. When I can view updates on Twitter and watch a live local game when we're away, personally that's a more attractive alternative.

karlready's response to mine is fair and it's a real quagmire for the National League because they can't unilaterally serve the interests of all their member clubs.

Haven't missed a home game in 33 years but watching a streamed game holds very little interest for me. Let's be honest, football at this level is absolute shite and not something you would choose to watch for entertainment if you didn't support a club down here. Without meeting up with my mates and the matchday atmosphere it just doesn't appeal at all, I never watch our televised away games.

 

[Ben D]

There has to be a return of fans in a limited capacity, there isn’t any other way of helping clubs out. A bailout from the government or from league clubs isn’t likely

 

[Monkey Tennis]

It doesn't cost £20,000.00 to stream lol.

It costs £20k to join iFollow, smart arse.

 

[Monkey Tennis]

Are you talking about Barrow here?

Was more thinking the Conference North/South teams.

Ours are covered by our season tickets for now, but the suggestion is that other clubs in League 2 have only been getting a few hundred home fans paying to watch -people can't be bothered spending a Saturday sat in front of the laptop, others will stream for three or four of their mates, and others are technophobes. Also, it's really shit streaming matches with no crowds in the stadium, so imagine viewing figures will go down after the first few weeks.

 

[Ellis]

It costs £20k to join iFollow, smart arse.

Good job we're not in the EFL then!

If teams at this level want to stream matches, can tell you from experience its no where near the 20k you mentioned. This is ignoring the fact that the National League should have been considering streaming as a contingency option just like the EFL did when negotiating the iFollow service.

It says it all that the NL have only just started liaising with the government in the last week or so about a bailout for the lost revenue.

 

[Stocky]

Streaming is where you'll see the difference between the well supported ex league clubs and the traditional Non League clubs.

 

[Raymondo316]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1309569380901171200

 

[Super_horns]

Just read they had some MP on the Andrew Marr show basically saying it's up to the Premier league to help the others rather than rely on the Government for hand outs.

 

[John Still]

Just read they had some MP on the Andrew Marr show basically saying it's up to the Premier league to help the others rather than rely on the Government for hand outs.

Doubt the government will help teams specially because people in the theatre industry will be moaning. There will be no crowds unless things change dramatically or a vaccine is available before the season ends.

 

[Super_horns]

Yes - all the industries will be saying put us first and there are probably people who think everyone in football earns thousands a week and clubs make millions.

 

[karlready]

Dowden’s been on the box this morning, help not forthcoming from government, but seems confident that PL will help out “lower league” clubs.However, he seemed to specify EFL. Whether we get any crumbs from our Master’s table remains to be seen

 

[#Beebot]

If this is all true - and it probably is because it's no different to what the government's position has been throughout the week - then you have to wonder what the fuck the NL were on about in their statement on Thursday.

 

[ForzaCounty]

If this is all true - and it probably is because it's no different to what the government's position has been throughout the week - then you have to wonder what the fuck the NL were on about in their statement on Thursday.

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

If this is all true - and it probably is because it's no different to what the government's position has been throughout the week - then you have to wonder what the fuck the NL were on about in their statement on Thursday.

I watched it - he was talking about the Premier League helping out the EFL.

 

[Raymondo316]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1310508064844509189

 

[Luke Imp]

Sounds like there are a fair few caveats to anything from the PL.

A Championship wage cap seems to be one, no relegation from the PL if the season is curtailed in the future (they still haven't voted curtailment through yet) is another and there also seems to be a reluctance to help club's out who, in their opinion, don't need it and whilst I can understand the view they're taking on that, why punish those who've run the club well and/or have made good money through player sales, particularly from their youth system (thinking Birmingham/Bellingham and Exeter/Watkins to Villa windfall).

A loan is better than nothing, if that's what it turns out to be, but still just kicks a can down the road. Ok, they might do it over 10 years, which is a long period of time but it's still money club's have to find. For arguments sake, £500k to Ipswich and £500k to Accrington means completely different levels of a bailout. I'm sure they'll also want to ensure any money finds itself in the right hands and not elsewhere...

I don't think it's just up to the PL to help, it needs government intervention as well - I don't think we're going to see Tesco bailout the local corner shops if something happens to them so why this falls squarely at the PL's door I'm not sure. They've got no fans either, loss of earnings, TV rebates etc to pay for, too. Football is worth a lot of money, but there are very, very few cash rich club's.

EDIT - And just to add, of course, that football has a big impact on the local communities. The pubs, takeaways, schools/businesses who make money through offering their parking spaces on a match day etc etc. It's in the Governments interest to keep them going, not the PL's.

 

[jacobncfc]

The government trying to pin this all on the PL is disgraceful IMO. We all know that there need to be wider conversations about distribution of wealth in football, but in this specific scenario, the government is effectively banning football clubs from trading. The epidemiology might be that it has to be done, but if that’s the case then it falls on the government to keep things afloat.

 

[karlready]

Coronavirus: Government warned football structure at risk of collapse

Football is at risk of "the collapse of the national league structure that we have known for over 100 years", the government is warned.

www.bbc.co.uk

Reading the report linked here, it now seems that a rescue package is unlikely to be agreed this week. But my understanding is that at a number of clubs, contracts apply when the players start the season.So if no reasonable funding is forthcoming, some clubs effectively bankrupt themselves. Or have I got this wrong. I really hope so.

 

[MrGloverLover]

Our Chairman has today said our lost revenue for the season without fans would be circa £1.3m. Makes the £15-20m to bail all of the clubs out a bit optimistic.