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Reuters

Up to 60 English lower league football clubs could go out of business if the sport fails to plan for the impact of Covid-19 beyond the current season, Huddersfield Town owner Phil Hodgkinson said on Sunday.
English professional football has been suspended since March.
Championship (second tier) clubs are due to return to training in small groups on Monday, with hopes of completing the season behind closed doors.
“The problem is not whether we finish (the) season or not, it is what happens after that,” Hodgkinson told the BBC.
Premier League confident of restart despite two more testing positive for Covid-19
“If we don’t come to an agreement there will be no football pyramid.
“There are clubs I know of that are only still trading because they are deferring wages and (tax) and other creditors. They will need paying at some point.”




Hodgkinson said the worst case scenario would be playing next season without fans allowed to attend matches, leaving many clubs without their major source of income.
Clubs are already facing significant expenditure for Covid-19 testing.
Liverpool’s greatest day: driving an open-top bus through Everton’s hopes and dreams in 1986
“There is an absolutely real, stark probability that if something isn’t agreed now within football to ensure all clubs can pay their bills and get through to the point where income is resumed, you will be looking at 50 or 60 clubs ceasing to exist,” said Hodgkinson.
He suggested players’ wages needed to be reduced by 30 to 50 per cent at every level until crowds could return, and accused some people in the game of “just sticking their heads in the sand.”

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English Premier League

Huddersfield owner says 50 or 60 clubs could go bust in next year

Huddersfield Town chairman Phil Hodgkinson says up to 60 English clubs could go under owing to the effects of the coronavirus outbreak. Photo: Action Images

Premier League confident of restart despite two more testing positive for Covid-19

The Premier League remains confident it will be able to resume matches in June, but ending the season also remains a possibility. Photo: DPA

Liverpool’s greatest day: driving an open-top bus through Everton’s hopes and dreams in 1986

Liverpool completed the league and cup double in 1986 in what was arguably their greatest season. Photo: Simon Miles/Allsport/Getty Images/Hulton Archive

Liverpool FC 3-1 Everton FC, FA Cup Final 1986, Wembley Stadium, Saturday 10th May 1986. Match Action. Ian Rush celebrates goal in 56th minute. (Photo by /Liverpool Echo/Mirrorpix/Getty Images)

23 November 1986 - Football League Division One - Everton v Liverpool - A policeman walks past the Everton fans behind the metal fences at Goodison Park. (Photo by Mark Leech/Getty Images)

1986: General view of the Liverpool team bus surrounded by supporters during their homecoming after their victory in the the FA Cup final against Everton at Wembley Stadium in London. Liverpool won the match 3-1 to gain a League and Cup double. \ Mandatory Credit: Allsport UK /Allsport

Everton and Liverpool fans gathered together before Saturday's FA Charity Shield match. (Photo by PA Images via Getty Images)

Huddersfield owner says 50 or 60 clubs could go bust in next year

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} English professional football has been suspended since March

English professional football has been suspended since March