18 MPs, the co-owner of Sunderland Charlie Methven, the Chairman of the Football Supporters Federation Dr. Malcolm Clarke, the chairman of Grimsby Town Phillip Day and two former chairman of the F.A. have signed a letter to the government asking them to save professional football, as shown on Twitter.
The Coronavirus pandemic has shut down football since March and is the biggest threat to the livelihoods of clubs since the collapse of ITV Digital. It is uncertain when teams will be able to play games in front of their fans again. This is a serious problem for teams further down the league ladder which rely on ticket revenue in order to survive. There has even been talk that some teams may be forced to close.
This has spurred Damien Collins MP, a Conservative who used to be the Chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, to write a letter to the Secretary of State for DCMS Oliver Dowden, the Chairman of the FA Greg Clarke and the Chairman of the EFL Rick Parry, asking for help to save professional football.
This letter, which is signed by MPs from the Conservatives and the Labour Party, asks for financial help to make sure that teams in Sky Bet League One and Two can survive throughout the pandemic. This letter asks that a Football Finance Authority is set up which can provide assistance to clubs that need it during this tough time. This fund would only be able to be used to fund short term funding gaps and not for the recruitment of players.
Not only did 18 MPs sign the letter but also Lord Triesmann and Greg Dyke, two former Chairmen of the FA. This was alongside the Sunderland owner and the Grimsby chairman, showing this has some backing within the EFL.
