Port Vale goalkeeper and chair speak out on financial crisis
Port Vale chair Carol Shanahan and goalkeeper Scott Brown have both spoken to the national press about the Football League crisis caused by the lack of fans at games.
Lower League clubs are desperate for financial help as gate receipts are a major part of their revenue. Appeals have been made to the government and Premier League.
Port Vale chair rejects ‘B’ teams proposal
But the answer certainly isn’t to have ‘B’ teams, it’s to support the current structure as it is…
Port Vale chair Carol Shanahan has rejected the notion that some Premier League clubs could be allowed to field ‘B’ teams in the Football League. Manchester City CEO Ferran Soriano raised the idea this week after calls for financial aid for League clubs.
Shanahan told Sky Sports: “I think he’s right that this is a good opportunity for the pyramid to help each other but that isn’t the way that we need help.
“The clubs I am talking about are in Leagues One and Two, which seem to be the forgotten part of the elite arm of the football family.
“We are completely different from the Championship, who get a lot of money from the Football League through parachute payments.
“It’s completely different down in League One and League Two, where we don’t get money coming down at that same sort of rate.
“We don’t get media money, all our money comes through the gate. So by the time you take the fans away, you don’t have the income coming in.
“But the answer certainly isn’t to have ‘B’ teams, it’s to support the current structure as it is.”
Scott Brown says Football League will ‘collapse’ without financial help
There’s a real danger that unless help comes from somewhere a lot of clubs will disappear…
Port Vale keeper Scott Brown has told the i newspaper that the lower leagues desperately need financial help while crowds are not allowed in stadiums.
Brown commented: “At Port Vale, we’re lucky we have owners who are able to pay our wages and have done throughout the pandemic, but other clubs are not so fortunate. There’s a real danger that unless help comes from somewhere a lot of clubs will disappear.
“It needs to come from somewhere. They helped the Conference and below but we’re stuck in the middle.
“Football is not the same without fans, it doesn’t exist. You’re playing games now and it can feel like a preseason game. The pressure isn’t the same, the atmosphere is not the same, it’s eerie. For the future of football we need fans back as soon as possible and help from wherever that may be.”