EFL ready to move fixtures next week to bring fans back as soon as possible

The English Football League is ready to postpone next Tuesday’s fixtures to Wednesday in order to allow fans to return after Boris Johnson’s “welcome” announcement.

EFL chairman Rick Parry has confirmed that talks are already under way to rejig next week’s fixture list to allow clubs where possible to reopen their doors. Under the new coronavirus restrictions announced by the Prime Minister on Monday, outdoor sporting venues in tier 1 locations will be allowed up to 4,000 fans in attendance, with 2,000 supporters allowed into games in tier 2 areas.

Although tier 3 areas will see games remain closed off to the public, the EFL is pressing ahead with plans that will allow clubs to get fans back in as soon as possible, and that could be as early as next Wednesday when the national lockdown is lifted.

"We need the detail," Parry said on Radio Four’s Today programme.

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"Clearly we have a number of games taking place on 1 December, in theory we will be as flexible as we can if they can be moved to 2 December. But we don't know which clubs will be in which tier yet.

"We won't know that until Thursday. We will need permissions from the safety advisory groups, we need to know this is done properly so it's one step at a time."

Parry did stress that it will not be an easy task to move games or prepare stadiums for coronavirus-proof protocols given they have been shut down since March, while others will not have the staff in place to prepare the necessary requirements as plenty of clubs across the EFL have utilised the government’s extended furlough scheme.

"Some clubs will still have safety officers on furlough, it's taken everyone a bit by surprise," he added.

"We weren't really expecting anything before Christmas. There's a lot of work to do quite quickly and it's really important that we get this right.

"It's not a case of rushing into this and tripping over. It's a case of being measured, getting it right,

"The clubs will be taken by surprise because they were expecting nothing really before Christmas. We've been involved in discussions with the DCMS (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) who've been incredibly supportive. Clearly it's something we've been pressing for but it's literally in the last few days that it has become a reality."

Six matches are due to take place in the Championship on Tuesday 1 December, with eight fixtures in League One and a further seven in League Two. However, some clubs are already against rushing back fans given the short notice period, with provisions needed over travel to stadiums, the entry and exit times of supporters to avoid them grouping in large numbers and the availability of food and drink without them leaving their seats.

Parry was welcoming of the decision though, having called on government to come up with a road map to see the safe return of fans in order to help clubs through what has been the biggest financial crisis in the game’s history. With a deal yet to be agreed with the Premier League over bailout funding for the Championship, League One and League Two, a number of clubs will struggle to meet their November salary payments on time, while at least 10 clubs fear collapse before Christmas unless funding is secured.

The return of matchday revenue through paying fans is a “lifeline” that can help towards preventing that, admits Parry.

“We welcome the Prime Minister's announcement because clearly we've been pushing for the return of fans for some considerable time," he said.

"We do recognise the problems the country has been facing particularly during the second lockdown.

"We have to build upon it because what we are really looking forward to is getting fans back in more substantial numbers, but this is a really welcome start.

"At League One and League Two level it could be very significant. It's not just the money, it's a very welcome return to an atmosphere, and if we get 4,000 at League Two level it would be very welcome. It can be a very welcome lifeline."