EFL & Coronavirus

[Pyfish+]

On 26/09/2020 at 10:42, Smiley Culture said:

Has there been any reasoning behind why Grimsby v Cheltenham had to be called off but West Ham v Hull didn’t? It seems odd that one positive test was enough to get that game off but three positive tests less than two hours to kick-off wasn’t. 

The EFL are investigating apparently. Our chairman had come out over the weekend to say our next few games are off as our training ground has been closed for 14 days but that isn't usually the procedure. And now Bradford are questioning the etiquette of Grimsby as apparently they've not been contacted to say our game against them is off.

There's definitely something weird afoot here but I think it is down to the fact that we can't afford the tests for the whole team so as a precaution, everyone is isolating. 

[Stan]

Games against Hull and Bradford off for Grimsby. 

[Pyfish+]

4 minutes ago, Stan said:

Games against Hull and Bradford off for Grimsby. 

 

Quote

 

Grimsby Town Football Club can confirm that our next two fixtures vs. Bradford City and Hull City have been postponed.

Following medical advice received from the EFL, our own medical team and in line with current Government guidelines, members of our first team playing and management staff continue to self-isolate due to a recent positive COVID-19 test being identified within the squad.  

 

Seems like it is our medical team that has made the call to tell everyone to self-isolate which is what sets it apart from the other teams who've had positive cases.

[Bluebird Hewitt]

Wasn't sure whether to put this in this thread or the EFL Clubs in Crisis thread. Decided it was best here as this is mainly due to Covid. 

Ten clubs in the EFL are struggling to pay wage bills this month, according to the below BBC article. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54878811

[Dave]

8 minutes ago, Bluebird Hewitt said:

Wasn't sure whether to put this in this thread or the EFL Clubs in Crisis thread. Decided it was best here as this is mainly due to Covid. 

Ten clubs in the EFL are struggling to pay wage bills this month, according to the below BBC article. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54878811

Well, the Premier League rescue package for League One and League Two clubs is still there.

Unfortunately Rick Parry needs to accept that Premier League clubs are not going to be willing to bail out Championship clubs based on the some of the spending that was seen in the last transfer window. The amount of money spent by the likes of Nottingham Forest and Cardiff City on the loan deal of Harry Wilson is borderline reckless given the current climate.

[Stan]

Rescue package for EFL clubs agreed

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The Premier League and English Football League (EFL) have agreed a £250m rescue package to help ease the financial challenge faced by EFL clubs as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The EFL will be assisted in getting a £200m loan for Championship clubs.

A £50m grant has been agreed for League One and Two clubs.

EFL chairman Rick Parry said it was a "welcome, tangible commitment to the professional game at a time when it has needed it most".

The Premier League will pay up to £15m to help the EFL to secure a £200m loan which it will then lend to Championship clubs interest free.

Loans are capped at £8.33m per club and must be repaid by June 2024.

The £50m rescue package for Leagues One and Two is split into two parts - £30m will be paid to the 48 clubs as a grant based on missed gate receipts from the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons.

• League One clubs will receive a minimum payment of £375,000.
• League Two clubs will receive a minimum payment of £250,000.
• The remaining £15m will be distributed using a lost gate revenue share calculation.

A further £20m monitored grant will be provided and clubs can apply based on need. A joint Premier League and EFL panel will determine club eligibility.

Clubs receiving a monitored grant will be subject to restrictions with respect to transfer spend and player wages.

"Our over-arching aim throughout this process has been to ensure that all EFL clubs survive the financial impact of the pandemic," said Parry.

"I am pleased that we have now reached a resolution on behalf of our clubs and, as we have maintained throughout, this will provide much needed support and clarity following months of uncertainty."

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said: "The Premier League is a huge supporter of the football pyramid and is well aware of the important role clubs play in their communities. Our commitment is that no EFL club need go out of business due to Covid-19.

"All football clubs continue to suffer significant financial losses as a result of the pandemic, but Premier League shareholders unanimously agreed to provide additional funding and support for EFL clubs in real financial distress.

"We are very pleased to have reached this agreement and we stand together with the EFL in our commitment to protect all clubs in these unprecedented times."

The Premier League previously said a financial package for League One and Two clubs was intended to make sure they "will not go out of business as a result of the financial impact of Covid-19 and be able to complete the 2020-21 season".

Since March, football has been played behind closed doors until restrictions were lifted in some areas of England this week, meaning clubs have missed out on vital matchday revenue.

In October, EFL clubs rejected the Premier League's proposed £50m rescue package for League One and Two clubs, saying it "falls some way short" of the required amount.

Top-flight clubs made the offer after deciding not to pursue Project Big Picture.

But in November, clubs "agreed in principle" for those in League One and Two to receive the package from the Premier League.

The agreement came two days after after a parliamentary committee heard that 10 EFL clubs were struggling to pay wages.

The EFL board approved the deal on Thursday before Premier League shareholders then gave their final approval to the agreement.

"I warmly welcome this deal between the Premier League and the EFL which provides up to £250m support to help clubs through Covid," said culture secretary Oliver Dowden.

"I'm glad that football has come together to agree this substantial package. Fans are starting to return and we look forward to building on this as soon as it's safe.

"With a £250m support package for men's elite football and £300m Government funding for women's football, the National League and other major spectator sports we have fuel in the tank to get clubs and sports through this."

Julian Knight MP, chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, said he welcomed the rescue package but criticised the delay in agreeing the deal, adding: "This fiasco is evidence of a lack of accountability within football's governance structure."

 

 

[Stan]

Peterborough get the festive period off:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55365366

One player has tested positive. Everyone has to isolate for 10 days. Next game is 2nd Jan.

[Stan]

 

[Smiley Culture]

Feels like there is loads or games off at the minute. 

Non-League in the South East is done as well. Absolutely no way they’ll see the season out. 

[Stan]

And now Ipswich...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55403523

Quote

 

Ipswich Town have called off two League One games after six members of staff tested positive for Covid-19, including manager Paul Lambert.

The Suffolk side were due to host Northampton Town at Portman Road on Saturday, 26 December.

They were then scheduled to travel to AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday, 29 December.

But they have now informed the English Football League that they will not be able to play either fixture.

 

 

List of fixtures postponed due to COVID so far:
League One
Gillingham vs Peterborough
Ipswich vs Northampton
Sunderland vs Hull
Accrington Stanley vs Sunderland
Peterborough vs Charlton
AFC Wimbledon vs Ipswich

[Smiley Culture]

League One and Two won’t finish, I reckon. 

[N U F C]

1 minute ago, Smiley Culture said:

League One and Two won’t finish, I reckon. 

Said exactly that to my Dad earlier. I think it'll have to take another turn for the worst, at the minute it's not too bad but yeah, there seems to be more and more creeping in.

[Stan]

Grimsby given suspended fine for COVID breaches leading to postponements of games back in September

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55605876

Quote

 

Grimsby Town have accepted a suspended fine after breaches of the English Football League's Covid-19 rules led to three matches being postponed.

It is thought they are the first club in the country to be sanctioned for breaking the rules during the pandemic.

The postponements in September followed a positive test for player Jack Curran.

But an investigation found that social distancing rules had not been followed, meaning more players than should have been necessary had to self-isolate.

Players were allowed to congregate in communal areas at their Cheapside training ground, while the BBC also understands former boss Ian Holloway admitted to investigators that he played darts with some of his players, which he claimed was a training tool.

It is thought players were also involved in car sharing and that the Mariners failed to conduct an adequate risk assessment by a suitable specialist before re-opening their kitchen at the training ground.

Although players and staff were told to self-isolate for 14 days - leading to the postponements - the investigator found that, if protocols had been properly observed, only two players should have been affected.

"Quite honestly this should not have happened," chairman Philip Day told BBC Radio Humberside after the club were fined £4,880, which is suspended until June.

"We're disappointed because, prior to the players returning to training, we had put in place protocols which were approved by the EFL and we gave a full morning's training to the staff and players to ensure they were fully conversant with the protocol.

"The protocols are there for a purpose and they must be complied with. They're all adults, but sometimes you've just got to reinforce the message time and again."

Day also said the playing of darts was "unknown to the board and senior management" and was "really beyond the protocols".

"Olly [Holloway] used the playing of darts to build up team ethos and sadly he shouldn't have done it," he added.

Grimsby are also facing other costs, including an EFL bill of £13,000, believed to be the cost of the investigation, and reasonable costs incurred by the teams they were due to face at the time - Cheltenham Town, Bradford City and Hull City.

In a statement, the EFL said: "As we continue to reiterate, adherence to the matchday and non-matchday protocols by blubs is the single biggest way we can collectively mitigate against the spread of the virus and ensure the health and well-being of managers, players and others associated with the staging of professional football matches."

 

 

[Lucas]

Bloody Grimsby. Nothing but trouble those lot.

I thought they were all good natured people, ran great games, produced decent pod casts, did ok at Fantasy Football and had a nice heart but I guess I was wrong.

I'm not angry, just disappointed.

[Stan]

 

 

 

[Smiley Culture]

Not sure if it’s across the board but I have seen that one possibility is to combine the results of the partially completed 19/20 season and the barely got going 20/21 season and then creating the league table based upon a points per game average. 

Proper bat shit crazy and I’m not sure what it actually achieves. 

[Stan]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56510763

Quote

 

Last week saw zero positive Covid-19 cases at any of the 72 English Football League clubs for the first time since twice-weekly testing began in January.

It comes a week after Championship side Rotherham recorded 25 cases following an outbreak among players and staff.

A total of 5,524 players and staff from all 72 clubs were tested between 15 and 21 March in the case-free week.

EFL chief executive Trevor Birch called it "a testament to the hard work and efforts of all clubs".

Since the EFL testing regime began with more than 100 positive cases recorded in the first week among the 66 clubs tested, they have mostly fallen week-on-week, bar the recent outbreak at Rotherham.

The Millers postponed three Championship fixtures while manager Paul Warne had to continue isolating when they returned to action against Watford earlier this month.

"Our focus must be on maintaining this low transmission rate and then ensure supporters can return in full as quickly as is safe to do so," Birch said.

 

 

[Dave]

The entire Rotherham team must have had their vaccinations 

[Dave]

Sixty million! Blimey.

[Danny]

I have no idea what the Russian geezer wanted out of Bournemouth, they're never going to be self-sustaining in the Prem and they're never going to grow into a giant either.

[Dave]

Can't say I have much sympathy for the owners who spent money in the last transfer window or sold the club ground to bypass FFP.

Again, the losers long term of this will be the fans.

[Dave]

Completely understand why you'd be pretty pissed if you've lived as close to your means as you can. The EFL seem to love rewarding reckless behaviour and incompetence. 

[ScoRoss]