Crewe Alexandra manager David Artell says that any disruption to the league season where supporters are not permitted into stadiums would hit every club at every level hard when it comes finances – but Artell has stressed that the prudent way our club is run provides that stability in times of adversity.

Crewe are preparing for a Boxing Day home fixture against Wigan Athletic this Sunday and Artell says that if Covid was to result in games taking place behind closed doors, it would have a detrimental effect on everything again.

When probed if the game was to continue with lockouts for fans, a disheartened Alex boss told us:  “Of course, it would have mass implications at every level of the game. We don’t want football without the supporters, especially when we have experienced it without them and then welcomed them back.

“It has been terrific to have those atmospheres when a Sunderland, Sheffield Wednesday and Wigan roll into town.

“The Premier League does get an unfair rap at times mainly because it earns millions upon millions. Yes, some more of it should filter down we all get that, but it is all relative and they are still effected like the rest of us.

“Yes, they can probably survive 10, 20, 30 million pound losses and the EFL clubs can’t but the pandemic effected all clubs. We all felt the shock of that, more than most.

“Our club is run extremely well. We are one of the clubs that hasn’t actually gone into administration and we should be proud of that fact. The problem comes when clubs over exert themselves and chase the big prize and they don’t get there and become a cropper.”