If you a regular Bulls News reader, you may have seen a recent statement from the FA about the return of grassroots football.
The statement contained a number of key points which clubs, like Hereford FC, will need to oversee.
• Everyone should self-assess for COVID-19 symptoms before every training session or match. If you are symptomatic or living in a household with possible or actual COVID-19 infection you must not participate or attend;
• Clubs and facility providers should ensure that their facility is compliant with current Government legislation and guidance related to COVID-19;
• Competitive training is now permitted, with groups limited to a maximum of 30 people, including coaches;
• Competitive match play is permitted, with social distancing in place before and after the match, and in any breaks in play;
• Players and officials should sanitise hands before and after a game as well as scheduled breaks throughout a game or training session;
• Ball handling should be kept to a minimum with most contact via a boot and the ball disinfected in breaks of play;
• Goal celebrations should be avoided;
• Equipment should not be shared, and goalkeepers should ensure they disinfect their gloves regularly in breaks in training or matches and thoroughly afterwards. Where possible, coaches should only handle equipment in training;
• Where possible, players, coaches and officials should arrive changed and shower at home. Use of changing and shower facilities must follow government advice on the use of indoor facilities;
• Participants should follow best practice for travel including minimising use of public transport and walking or cycling if possible. People from a household or support bubble can travel together in a vehicle
• Clubs should keep a record of attendees at a match or training session, including contact details, to support NHS Test and Trace;
• Clubs should ensure they are affiliated with their County Football Association.
That statement made no mention of the extra costs to clubs of ensuring these guidelines are followed. And that's before the forthcoming season even starts.
Whilst it appears from messages sent out by the Government and the FA that football at National North level might return by the end of September, nothing is set in stone. In all honesty it probably can't be, but one day, hopefully, this autumn games will restart. Whether clubs will be able to cope, and stay solvent, with all the extra work to put matches on remains to be seen.
For Hereford this season comes after a horrendous campaign both on and off the field. Losses of circa £250K are thought likely. The appointment of Josh Gowling, the third manager of the season, did lift spirits around Edgar Street but that was before Covid-19 brought the season to an early and very costly end back in March. Four home games were not played so effectively the club has had little income since the last home game on February 29th.
The chairman and directors of Hereford FC will have many challenges to face over the coming weeks and months. And the board is short of numbers following the recent departures of Paul Quarrell (stadium, security, safety etc),
George Webb (commercial) and Helen Byard (HR and Welfare) and of course
Mick Merrick of HUST. Their
expertise and talents are not readily available “off the shelf” and the
current board are undoubtedly going to be severely challenged. Organising and managing the club won't be easy. Balancing the books will be very difficult.
Let's look at some of the issues that they may come up against. Setting a budget is a priority. Managers can not work without a budget. Josh Gowling won't know what terms to offer players and how many he can afford. But how do you set that budget? Can you assume there will be 22 home league games, can you assume there will be some income from cup games, how many season tickets might you sell, can you estimate what gate figures might be? And then there's the likely restrictions on the number of spectators allowed because of the Covid-19 regulations. Currently the thinking is just 30% of capacity which equates to around 1400/1500. And how long might those regulations last, until Xmas perhaps. Maybe, but maybe much longer. And should players contracts be modified to take account of possible interuptions to the season
Looking at season tickets in more detail presents a number of problems. Firstly last season's season ticket holders lost out after four home games had to be cancelled. The club will need to offer some compensation even if it is framed in such a way that, hopefully, the vast majority will not claim.
Secondly if, at least for sometime, the capacity of Edgar Street is reduced to 1400/1500, does the club put a limit on season ticket sales if they exceed the capacity? Another view might be to sell full price season tickets only. Whilst this would not be popular with juniors and concessions, adult season tickets do bring in more income. And that extra income would help Gowling's budget.
Thirdly given that although Edgar Street is a famous ground with a very proud history, would the local council allow even 1400/1500 to watch a game given social distancing. Getting to seats in the Main Stand or the Len Weston Stand will take some organising. It may be that season ticket holders will not be able to choose where they sit just because it would be too difficult to organise.
Finally it looks as though the club will need to keep a record of the name and address of everyone attending a game in case someone later tests positive to Covid-19. That will take some organising.
Turning to stewarding levels. Despite likely lower attendances, it's thought more stewards may be required to ensure social distancing particularily on the Meadow End. And then there the stewarding of toilets. One in one out?
What about the bars, will any of them be able to open? And if they can open how big will be the drop in income because of much reduced throughput?
Given the way they normally operate with, in particular, a queue at half-time, will the food kiosks be able to open?
On match day one of the biggest off pitch attractions is hospitality. This is often sold out on many Saturdays. It might be able to operate on a similar basis to pub restaurants, with more space between tables, but turnover is bound to be reduced.
Another area where income may be reduced is perimeter boards. Some businesses may feel that spending money on an advertsing board at Edgar Street is not a priority for them at present. Sponsorship is another area where income may drop. Luckily the club already have deals in place with the likes of Westons Cider but some others are up for renewal.
Whatever the area, on or off the pitch, income will be less. How much less is difficult to predict but the club board will be minded that after last season's big loss the club can not afford a loss anywhere near that level.
They are going to have to make some pretty unpalatable
decisions in the next couple of weeks or so. It will require backbone, communication skills and being prepared to suffer a bit of “stick” from
key board warriors. Nothing new there they might say.
It should mean that the manager's budget has to be much, much less than last years. Anything other will be a very big risk.