Sadly, I am back on shift in the proper job and not able to devote the time I’d like to this site, but I’ll continue to do my best.
Thankfully, this wonderful comment appeared beneath one of our articles and I thought it was worthy of a much better platform for it to highlight just how much this current pandemic could change the game we all love.
The comment was submitted by Al and it reads as thus:
Obviously, no one knows how footballs future will be shaped and indeed when it could be possible for it to resume.
But I do wonder with all the talk of a new normal that this could also apply to this great sport.
Let’s face it without wanting to sound like a doom and gloom merchant, if this virus hangs around for a long time and distancing measures are not relaxed until at least a vaccine is found, then I think football as we know it could take years to get back to resembling anything like the format we were so used to seeing before COVID-19.
If the economy goes into a deep and long recession a lot of people won’t be able to afford to go to matches so could it be possible things may revert back to the old days where players become semi-professional part-timers at least for the foreseeable future?
Also, I think it is hugely disappointing that rich Premier League clubs and players are not offering to help out clubs like ours in lower leagues.
But if what I was saying about teams becoming part-time does transpire, then I think it’s highly possible a lot of the top tier teams could suffer the same fate anyway unless they have a rich sheikh to keep them afloat possibly?
Finally, I’m certain initially games would be played behind closed doors albeit with government permission and presumably generate income from perhaps pay to view?
What do you reckon Mad Hatter and others?
Please feel free to air your views on what is a very thought-provoking post.
Previous article by Mad Hatter
Hi mh an Al, I think Al has rightly pointed out what may well be the worst case scenario. Sadly we can’t predict the future. We can only hope that it doesn’t go that far. He’s right about the prem league. They will only pretect their own. I do think players are over payed an wages become more realistic though for lower league teams. But this will cause it to become impossible for them to compete in probably the championship league or prem as they won’t have the money. To survive in them
Hi all, think al is right its going to be very different if when footy returns…with all the mad money in football today, it was always a chance the bootom would fall out sooner or later, although not through this current situation. I think there will only be handful of clubs that dont come out of this unhurt, if this goes on to long. Think there maybe a few surprises in store for some who may appear to be in a better position than us..
Al is certainly right -I don’t think that football will ever get back to what we called “normal” pre these awful times – but that applies to life in general I’m afraid. It will be interesting to see what the Premier League big-wigs come out with tomorrow. They seem hell-bent on completing the season come what may. Even in times like these ,with so much dying, suffering and hardship, to some Money is more important than life itself. I was also extremely disappointed and angry at the response of some so-called Leeds United fans earlier this week after Gary Sweet’s sensible comments regarding the NHS and resumption– I feel sorry for such bigoted, ignorant ,selfish folk whose major concern at the moment is what division “their” club will be playing next season – whenever that may be.
Here, hear….football isn’t the important thing here, nor is money…
Hi all, I know this is the wrong place for this but I have just seen that Alan sheehan has just been added to the betting list for new manager. Funnily enough mh myself an others discussed this earlier in the week. And felt it would not be a bad idea. The players all loved him. Just the management didn’t. Would it be such a bad idea to appoint him?
I’m sure he’d be a beneficial asset. Let’s hope something comes of it.
Hi all, my crystal ball working overtime….i would love alan sheehan back….he was a great help to big mick last season…wouldn’t be a bad move to get him in, in some role, even if not as manager just yet…
Hi mh an Alan, since I wrote this I have spoken to some people. And it seems that there is no smoke without fire. An his odds because some people have put lumpy bets on.
I’ll cover this on Monday Chris when I’m off-shift 🙂
Hi, would welcome it myself. Always liked the guy & he had the same feelings of gj as me (& u) bring it on….