The start of Leagues One and Two could be under threat with a number of clubs reported to be threatening to strike as they’re unable to afford the cost of the testing and biosecurity measures currently required, however, the Blues are not among them.

According to The Athletic, there is the potential for clubs to go on strike if coronavirus testing measures remain in place.

They report that more than 12 clubs have told the EFL they won’t restart as they’re unable to afford the costs involved.

Town are claimed to be among those sides, however, we understand that that’s not the case with the Blues, who were among the four League One clubs happy to play 2019/20 to its conclusion, in the process of putting Covid safety and testing measures in place ready for the first-team squad to return to training this week despite the significant outlay.

Under the EFL protocols currently in place all players and staff attending training grounds must undergo tests every 48 hours at a cost of £150 each.

At Town that will come to a five-figure sum every week, even before the development squad and academy scholars are back in training with a date still to be confirmed for their return.

It’s said the dissenting clubs could potentially refuse to play unless updated Government advice relaxes the testing rules or the EFL institutes more affordable biosecurity protocols.

As things stand, no start date has yet been set for the start of 2020/21 with discussions set to be held between the clubs and EFL this Friday. The dates currently under discussion are August 29th and September 12th with the latter more likely.

Speaking to TWTD a fortnight ago, general manager of football operations Lee O’Neill expressed his concern that some clubs wouldn’t be able to afford to return to action, citing the cost of testing as one of the factors.

“It’s always been something that’s at the back of my mind, we’re not really in any different situation than we were league-wise when the vote went to cancel the season,” O’Neill said.

“It is changing daily and weekly so it could be that testing is taken off the table and it’s not required in the new season, so that’s then a very different conversation.

“It could be that stadiums are allowed to start opening and fans are allowed to start coming in. Again, that hasn’t been confirmed but it’s on the table.

“Until all of these situations and questions are answered, it’s very, very difficult for a club to understand the operational aspects.

“And every club was struggling before this situation anyway, so to add this layer of complexity on top of it, it’s incredibly difficult.”

Photo: TWTD

dirtydingusmagee added 16:11 - Jul 20 welcome to low league football .
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BlueandTruesince82 added 16:33 - Jul 20 Set a deadline all clubs commited to it go to L1 those that don't go into a holding league that doesnt play until they can a which point they should drop to the bottom of the pyrmaid to begin the following season whenever that may be. A covid tax for PL clubs and those who will recieve PL parachute payments wouldn't go amiss either
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ArnieM added 17:10 - Jul 20 I'd agree with that ^^
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Upthetown1970 added 17:17 - Jul 20 Grass roots football is returning with no testing and teams allowed to train together and not just in groups of 5. So my question is why do the top leagues need to test and the grass roots clubs dont ?. No testing all round is the only way. Obviously if someone has symptoms of Coronavirus then everyone gets tested surely that's the only way forward.
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chopra777 added 17:17 - Jul 20 Fans have given so much over the years it is time for these clubs to consider the health of its fans. So pay up buy the PPE and get back playing. All fans can wear masks so whats the problem.
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backwaywhen added 17:23 - Jul 20 All it would take is a few bob chucked in from the Premier League , the all costs are covered .
3

istanblue added 18:19 - Jul 20 Always knew this would happen. What needs to happen now is that the EFL/FA/government allocates a form of solidarity payment to all League 1 and 2 clubs to help them comply with the testing and biosecurity measures that they are required to take. However, such a process should have occurred when what to do with the rest of the 2019/20 season was being discussed. What the EFL effectively did was kick the can down the road. Instead of actually dealing with the lack of funds at smaller clubs to restart footballing activity, the EFL took the easy way out and just curtailed the season. Now that the new season beckons it surely cannot be a surprise to anyone that these small clubs who couldn't afford to restart the 19/20 season also cannot afford to start the 20/21 season.

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TotalBlue added 19:46 - Jul 20 For heavens sake it's time the prem acted responsibly and paid for the testing there is too much money also sky get your finger out of your backside and contribute as well it's the perm and sky who have ruined clubs like Ipswich Bolton bury and more
4

Lathers added 20:12 - Jul 20 This really drives home the fact we are in a Mickey Mouse league. Embarrassing really.
2

Blue041273 added 22:36 - Jul 20 The EFL has significant problems and need to be creative in dealing with issues facing all the clubs within their league structure. The EPL are driven by money and with their massively increased costs are unlikely to provide significantly increased support for League 1 & 2 clubs. The Championship could well become Premiership Div 2 and break away from the EFL. The EFL are already spending time and effort to prevent this. In the short term it is possible (some might say quite likely) that the L1 & 2 2020/21 season will be suspended and replaced by a series of competitions open to clubs who are able participate on a relatively regular basis. The potential financial implications to L1 & 2 clubs are horrendous and no club will be able to survive a prolonged period of inactivity! Until crowds are allowed back into stadiums (social distancing or not) there will no match revenue! Without games there will be no sponsorship revenue! And if clubs cannot generate income players cannot be paid and there will be no employment security with large numbers leaving the game! The EFL have a huge challenge ahead to ensure that League football as we know it survives the pandemic. We must hope and pray that they understand the responsibility!

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Bluearmy_81 added 07:49 - Jul 21 We're a joke club in a joke league. Thanks Evans
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Bert added 13:11 - Jul 21 Quite what the post at 7:49 contributes to this debate remains a mystery. I assume the post is thanking Evans for paying the bills and ensuring that the club still exists when fans come back; not that the poster will be there of course.
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Bluearmy_81 added 14:15 - Jul 21 Bert, keep ignoring the elephant in the room and keep thanking him for killing the club. You must have much in common with most Norwich fans in relation to the later...
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rabbit added 17:48 - Jul 21 Bluearmy_81 I am sure you are right Bert has something in common with Norwich fans in that if they live in the Country and claim to be genuine fans they actually go to matches. Unlike you of course who claim to be such an ardent fan but never appear, a bit like your non show at the Evans protest really.....oh sorry not your fault you didn't organise it so couldn't go!!! Joke fan, who simply makes claims he can't substantiate but insults genuine fans and Suffolk people.

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Bert added 17:48 - Jul 21 Our northern non attending poster really needs to keep on topic, just like the house rules state. Despite the EFL's failings, the club is more likely than many to survive the pandemic but only just. The PL should pay a levy to help the other leagues out that feed it and owners of clubs will have to alter their business plans in line with reduced revenue. While all this is going on the joker is the one who clearly doesn't understand that the focus has to be on the present and not the past. Time to get real up north !

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Bluearmy_81 added 19:09 - Jul 21 Getting real is being thankful Evans pays the bills?!! Absolutely hilarious for other fans, trust me. Tragic to hear from a fellow Town fan...
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62WasBest added 11:36 - Jul 22 Chocorange - Those clubs are part of the bedrock of the game. If you want to set your sights on anybody, train them on the Premier League which from the outset was just an exercise for a greed-fest to benefit a few clubs and the expense of everyone else. If TV showed lower league games, I'd much prefer it to watching the over-rated, overpaid prima donnas of the Premiership week in week out. At the top end, it isn't about a passion for the game generally, but just a huge commercial corporate exercise, with a huge TV-generated fan base internationally.

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