Fans in Grounds.

[RientO]

Orient are a bit of an exception in that they are within an hour of 5 of the biggest stadiums in the country, some league 1/league 2 clubs wouldn’t have access to a large stadium, or there would be a large number of them competing to play at the same large stadium. But with a bit of will power it could be done.

You're just looking at Orient. What about the other 70 league clubs? They can't all play at the big PL grounds.

Err, that's what I wrote

[RientO]

I dont think theres a chance, Orient will be playing in front of spectators in 2020.
The virus is not going away, and in fact the opposite is true, will local flare-ups all over the country.
What on earth is going to happen to league 1 & 2 football, i have no idea, but I can see more than a few clubs going bust in the next 12 months.
Maybe a little of the millions going to the Premier League needs to temporarily be diverted to league 1 & 2

I think there is a slim chance, but if Orient lose money with decent crowds, they are going to lose a lot more with a restricted crowd.

As for League 1 and League 2 teams, they cannot survive as they are. Player's wages will have to be slashed as that is the main overhead. Some clubs will have to go part-time, or just full on amateur.

Can't see the Premier League clubs giving up anything. Some may adopt smaller clubs for their under 23s to get experience, but that would be all.

[HeyO]

I dont think theres a chance, Orient will be playing in front of spectators in 2020.
The virus is not going away, and in fact the opposite is true, will local flare-ups all over the country.
What on earth is going to happen to league 1 & 2 football, i have no idea, but I can see more than a few clubs going bust in the next 12 months.
Maybe a little of the millions going to the Premier League needs to temporarily be diverted to league 1 & 2

I think there is a slim chance, but if Orient lose money with decent crowds, they are going to lose a lot more with a restricted crowd.

As for League 1 and League 2 teams, they cannot survive as they are. Player's wages will have to be slashed as that is the main overhead. Some clubs will have to go part-time, or just full on amateur.

Can't see the Premier League clubs giving up anything. Some may adopt smaller clubs for their under 23s to get experience, but that would be all.

All sounds dreadful.

[Ornchurch]

Orient are a bit of an exception in that they are within an hour of 5 of the biggest stadiums in the country, some league 1/league 2 clubs wouldn’t have access to a large stadium, or there would be a large number of them competing to play at the same large stadium. But with a bit of will power it could be done.

You're just looking at Orient. What about the other 70 league clubs? They can't all play at the big PL grounds.

Err, that's what I wrote

I was replying to kokomO. You know the bit above your answer that you have cut from the above post.

[RientO]

Don't even know what next season will look like. When will it start? Will League Cup/EFL Trophy take place? Will FA Cup have no replays? Can 46 games + play offs happen?

[HeyO]

Don't even know what next season will look like. When will it start? Will League Cup/EFL Trophy take place? Will FA Cup have no replays? Can 46 games + play offs happen?

Can’t sleep - worrying.

[RientO]

I was replying to kokomO. You know the bit above your answer that you have cut from the above post.

OK, but looked like you replied to mine.

[Ornchurch]

Don't even know what next season will look like. When will it start? Will League Cup/EFL Trophy take place? Will FA Cup have no replays? Can 46 games + play offs happen?

As discussed on Sunday Supplement yesterday:-
1. They have to wait for the Premier League players to have a rest and a preseason after finishing this season (after 3 months off I would ask why) so are looking at an October start.

2. A total of 34 weekends are required to fit in a season so seeing as Euros next summer something "will have to give".

3. FA are determined to have 3rd round of FA Cup first week of Jan as that is their big weekend re sponsorship and income.

My guess is that no League Cup this season and no FA Cup replays after 3rd round BUT

1. Will the Football League allow Leagues 1 and 2 to start before Premier and Championship. IMO this could lead to Championship becoming Premier 2.

2. Do League 1 and 2 want to play with no crowds / income.

3. Considering preliminary rounds of FA Cup are normally mid August will it have to be compressed as this will likely lead to no replays.

4. EFL Trophy could probably be incorporated with no issues.

[Sid Bishop]

I dont think theres a chance, Orient will be playing in front of spectators in 2020.
The virus is not going away, and in fact the opposite is true, will local flare-ups all over the country.
What on earth is going to happen to league 1 & 2 football, i have no idea, but I can see more than a few clubs going bust in the next 12 months.
Maybe a little of the millions going to the Premier League needs to temporarily be diverted to league 1 & 2

Agree but if this virus continues to affect attendances at all levels of football, then Championship and the Premier League teams will also be badly hit in their cash income and football will obviously not be the only sports to be affected.

[Ornchurch]

I think that grassroots football - kids and lower level non-league - could restart before the professional game as the crowds are so small to be almost irrelevant.

[Sid Bishop]

I think that grassroots football - kids and lower level non-league - could restart before the professional game as the crowds are so small to be almost irrelevant.

Agree.

[RientO]

1. Will the Football League allow Leagues 1 and 2 to start before Premier and Championship. IMO this could lead to Championship becoming Premier 2.
2. Do League 1 and 2 want to play with no crowds / income.

I guess that League 1 and League 2 could to start in late August/early September to fit in 46 games + play offs as most teams haven't been playing, but they would need to be doing their pre-season now.. The Championship will also have to squeeze 46 games + playoff in as well and this season won't finish until 4th August 2020. So that would also need to start in early September.

I don't know how viable a season with next to no income is for the 48 clubs in League 1 & 2. And it will probably cost more to play games than not. Some clubs may be able to lean on the owners to fund them, but a fair few won't.

[ComeOnYouOs]

I dont think theres a chance, Orient will be playing in front of spectators in 2020.
The virus is not going away, and in fact the opposite is true, will local flare-ups all over the country.
What on earth is going to happen to league 1 & 2 football, i have no idea, but I can see more than a few clubs going bust in the next 12 months.
Maybe a little of the millions going to the Premier League needs to temporarily be diverted to league 1 & 2

Agree but if this virus continues to affect attendances at all levels of football, then Championship and the Premier League teams will also be badly hit in their cash income and football will obviously not be the only sports to be affected.

I dont think Premier League teams actually need paying customers.....they earn so much from Sky etc, they just dont need the pittance ( comparatively speaking) that they get from live attendance

[RientO]

I dont think Premier League teams actually need paying customers.....they earn so much from Sky etc, they just dont need the pittance ( comparatively speaking) that they get from live attendance

Chelsea decided not to build a new stadium as it made little difference to their overall income. Bit different for Arsenal and Tottenham whose plans depend on the spectators to pay off the loans. Also The FA likely to feel the pinch with no games or gigs at Wembley. No issue for Manchester City nor West Ham.

[Top of the JES]

Don't even know what next season will look like. When will it start? Will League Cup/EFL Trophy take place? Will FA Cup have no replays? Can 46 games + play offs happen?

As discussed on Sunday Supplement yesterday:-
1. They have to wait for the Premier League players to have a rest and a preseason after finishing this season (after 3 months off I would ask why) so are looking at an October start.

2. A total of 34 weekends are required to fit in a season so seeing as Euros next summer something "will have to give".

3. FA are determined to have 3rd round of FA Cup first week of Jan as that is their big weekend re sponsorship and income.

My guess is that no League Cup this season and no FA Cup replays after 3rd round BUT

1. Will the Football League allow Leagues 1 and 2 to start before Premier and Championship. IMO this could lead to Championship becoming Premier 2.

2. Do League 1 and 2 want to play with no crowds / income.

3. Considering preliminary rounds of FA Cup are normally mid August will it have to be compressed as this will likely lead to no replays.

4. EFL Trophy could probably be incorporated with no issues.

Didn't watch Sunday supplement yesterday but my take on it is :-

Leagues 1 and 2 would start if safe in September, someone is going to have to underwrite losses at these clubs (big question is who) otherwise you will have clubs dropping out left right and centre. L1 & 2 Will probably need a Conference style first two months with clubs playing Sat/midweek to condense a third of the season - unlikely to be crowds at these games. No reason to wait for the Premiership to start.

The Championship is very very unlikely to become Premiership 2 the Premiership would never allow their brand to be diluted.

Of all the competitions that are expendable to me it's the EFL trophy suspend it for the season.

League cup to be started in November - one off games no replays.

I would also leave the transfer window open all season - there will be clubs who need to sell to survive.

FA cup round One onwards to be played midweek - no replays - premier league side will play reserve sides anyway

[aylesburyos]

Local could mean in the borough and those in Essex or London who can get to the ground by 1 train

When a poll of where O's fans live was done on here Two or Three years ago we had about 30 fans living in LBWF, I wouldn't really encourage anyone to use public transport at the moment safer by car/park/walk. As gshaw pointed out it was a crazy decision by the City of London Corporation to stop car parking at Spitalfields a few seasons back.

The no of fans living in Leyton has shot up in the last few years. Lot of people moving from Islington, Hackney to E10

[RientO]

When a poll of where O's fans live was done on here Two or Three years ago we had about 30 fans living in LBWF, I wouldn't really encourage anyone to use public transport at the moment safer by car/park/walk. As gshaw pointed out it was a crazy decision by the City of London Corporation to stop car parking at Spitalfields a few seasons back.

The no of fans living in Leyton has shot up in the last few years. Lot of people moving from Islington, Hackney to E10

A few of us in E11 as well. Walking distance for me. My dad comes in from E5 and my nephew comes in from E4. Made my move from Hackney to E11 nearly 30 years ago. Trailblazer :-)

[Top of the JES]

EFL have now written to League Clubs this is from a statement by Colchester United chairman Robbie Cowling made today.

The EFL are currently consulting with member clubs with a view to starting the 2020/21 season on either the 29th August or September 12th. In both cases, the season would be scheduled to finish on May 8th 2021.

I think this is really exciting news so long as the very strict testing protocol that was in place during the Play-Offs is relaxed. Otherwise, it will just be too expensive for League Two clubs.

Of course we will still apply strict protocols regarding our facilities and how they are used for training and for playing matches.

These protocols proved very successful during the Play-Offs where no new infections were detected by those that trained and played together and adhered to the methods that were introduced.

Attending Matches

There is also talk about allowing a limited number of fans to attend games. 25% of capacity has been a figure that has been discussed as realistic to comply with the 1m+ social distancing rules that are currently in place.

This is also exciting news but getting my head around how that will actually be possible and how we increase or reduce the percentage if things get better or worse is already giving me a headache.

[Oiram]

Hope the Stewards stop the idiots who seem to spend the entire game going to the bog ten times, or getting their 4th Burger or drink, or more and always seem to be one of the first to be ready to rush off out the ground, hanging around the aisles. They surely would be a ‘Super Spreader’ wandering around like they have ants in their pants and cannot sit for 45 minutes. So annoying.

[Oiram]

Just got to come up with a "fair" way of deciding which fans get in.

How many ST holders at the Orient ? about 3,000 or more ? so if the capacity gets cut to, say, 2,000 for social distancing (for example) - how does the club choose who gets in?

Based on looks.

Be empty then?

[RientO]

I dont think theres a chance, Orient will be playing in front of spectators in 2020.
The virus is not going away, and in fact the opposite is true, will local flare-ups all over the country.
What on earth is going to happen to league 1 & 2 football, i have no idea, but I can see more than a few clubs going bust in the next 12 months.
Maybe a little of the millions going to the Premier League needs to temporarily be diverted to league 1 & 2

I think there is a slim chance, but if Orient lose money with decent crowds, they are going to lose a lot more with a restricted crowd.

Looks like it happened. Just.

[Thor]

I saw some photos on twitter and there looked like there were about 500 fans in the ground, what happened to the other 1,500?

[BIGRON]

I saw some photos on twitter and there looked like there were about 500 fans in the ground, what happened to the other 1,500?

If your talking about the Orient the other 1,500 wearnt there because only a thousand tickets were allocated

[Stamford O]

574 given as attendance

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

574 given as attendance

It looked really low, that doesn’t surprise me.

Shame they didn’t open it up to non season ticket holders.