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Notts County and all National League clubs must provide their financial returns by the end of the day as more details began to emerge about the financial rescue package designed to help them survive the Covid crisis.
The government has agreed to give clubs an emergency grant to help fund them while games are played behind closed doors after plans to welcome the return of fans inside stadiums was scrapped earlier this month.
It emerged today that clubs are now being asked for their financial figures to determine how much support they will need and will largely focus on gate receipts and how much income they are losing out on.
Speaking in parliament today, Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston said: "Yesterday we provided the National League with assurances that financial support from the Government will be forthcoming so they can start this season this Saturday.
"We have asked for detailed financial returns from all major spectator sports to see what support they need. We expect those returns by the end of today.
"Any club in immediate financial distress should alert their sports governing body."
The government's support package comes after clubs in the National League Premier, North and South said they could not survive playing behind closed doors which had threatened to delay the start of the season.
Clubs were reportedly told that government "recognises the immediate pressure National League clubs are under in respect of starting their season and are committed to play resuming in a viable way".
More details are expected to be confirmed before the end of the week, but it means that Notts' trip to Dover this weekend will go ahead as planned.
Dover will be live streaming the game at the cost of £8 with all proceeds going to the home team. Notts are also set to launch their own service in the coming weeks as clubs turn to streaming to help generate income.
Clubs further up the pyramid in the Football League will now also hope financial aid will be coming this week after the government were warned teams were weeks away from shutting down the season unless they are bailed out.
Sunderland co-owner Charlie Methven said: “If the government is not taking responsibility (for their ban on fans) then clubs have to think very seriously about mothballing.
https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport...ue-aid-4561714
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Nigel Huddleston responding to a question from Tracey Crouch MP:
“Funding will be focused on those most in need and it will be based on the loss of gate receipts."
“I can't give details today. We are working on those details as I speak."
https://twitter.com/Ollie_Bayliss/st...75971664904192
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If it's based on loss of gate receipts, we should be the biggest recipientsOriginally Posted by Oldstripy
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Despite being the least needy, if needy at all. Not going to make any complaints if that's how it works, because it's Notts, but seeing that this is a grant and not a loan, I'm struggling to see how this is fair, especially if we charge more than most of our competitors (which I presume we do).
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This is a Tory government, my friends, rearrange the following into a well known phrase or saying:
organise a couldn't p i s s-up brewery a in
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Given that the Tories are all about helping the rich, in these circumstances we may do OK out of the grant scheme (though calling us “rich” is of course a bit rich).
There will be plenty of miffed EFL clubs wondering why the National League is getting priority treatment. Someone - either an MP or the NL itself - has done a good job stressing the needs of the clubs.
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Realistically how else could you do it? Notts budget and turnover compared to Dover as an example must be much much larger so a flat payment wouldn’t be fair.
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I think EFL clubs each receive nearly £500k per year just for competing and nearly the same again in solidarity payments from the PL so best part of £1m per year just for showing up. Not sure the same can be said for non-league?
We are fortunate we have the second year parachute payment this year as well which other NL clubs won't have.
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The way I read it they need to submit some management accounts showing how much money will be lost through not having fans attending. Like the bounceback and CBILS loans for businesses they will have to confirm that they are at risk of closure due to the pandemic. Might be harder for Notts than we think but would imagine the club must clear circa £100k per season in ST sales alone never mind pay on the day sales so should be able to put a good case across.
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I'd love to be a fly on the wall at this meeting, I can imagine it becoming quite heated. Will be interested in the details, should they be made public.
The anger behind statements such as "Look at all of the money in the Premier League, it's a disgrace that Macc Town should be allowed to fold. Absolutely shameful!" is understandable but then, what would happen if the PL bailed out a badly run club each time? What kind of message would that send out?
It's a tricky one. I just think fans should be allowed back into stadiums and then we wouldn't have this problem.
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