‘I FEAR WE'LL ALL GO BUST' – HOLT

EVERY club in the EFL faces bankruptcy unless the Covid-19 crisis can be brought under control.

- Chris Dunlavy

That is the stark warning of Andy Holt, the owner and chairman of League One Accrington Stanley.

“As it stands, every club in England goes bust,” says Holt. “It’s just a question of who goes bust first and who goes bust last. That’s the top and bottom of it. Because TV money will dry up. Sponsorship will dry up. Without fans, clubs won’t be able to pay bills or honour contracts. It’ll be a mess.

“Whatever we do or don’t do now, the only solution is an answer to this bloody virus. Without a vaccine, or a better way to manage infection and treatment, clubs - and other businesses - will go under.”

Holt furloughed all but three of Stanley’s staff over the summer, helping him to drastically reduce the club’s losses.

Losses

But with playing staff now back on the wage bill, and games being played behind closed doors, costs are quickly mounting up.