David Artell admits that the postponement of games or the possibility of playing behind closed door when we do resume will have a damaging financial impact on a number of lower league clubs.
On Friday, professional football was postponed until 3rd April at the earliest due to the pandemic sweeping the world and Artell believes that clubs will struggle without income coming in from matchday operations.
Artell told the club’s official website: “There will be a lot of clubs in the lower leagues relying on that matchday revenue. The gate receipts is the biggest financial generator and if the football grapevine is to be believed then there will be a few going close to the wind over these next few weeks.
“Every club budgets for 23 home league games and it is postponed then you get that revenue back at some stage. It happens when a game is called off for bad weather but you still get the revenue. If the game is behind closed doors or cancelled then you don’t and that is going to hit certain clubs really hard financially.
“No-one wants to see clubs and staff struggling to be paid or going to the wall like Bury but that is what could happen.
“Of course, there is a bigger picture in play here. We are dealing with life and death matters here and you cannot put a price on anyone’s life.
The Alex boss added: “There are some tough decisions to be made by the government, FA and EFL but that is why those people are paid a lot of money to make them.”