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Next Game: Banbury Away On Friday March 29th Kick-Off 3.00pm

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Clarity Needed Says Chester Chairman

Chester FC chairman Andrew Morris has said that clarity is needed about the forthcoming season after plans for spectators to return to watching games were delayed by Government.

There is a meeting of National League Clubs tomorrow. Originally the League said that 'without spectators there is no football'.

"There are a number of chairman at different clubs that have a slightly different and varied view over that," said Morris as reported by CheshireLive.

"The clubs, at our level and the one above, are directly impacted, and there are splits about those who want to continue regardless, without spectators, and those who cannot function without spectators present.

"We very much fall along the lines of we need spectators within our ground for our business model to work. We rely on our matchday income, either directly through supporters coming through the turnstiles, sponsorship, or all of the things that are secondary spend through the bars and the kiosks."

Morris hopes the meeting will provide some clarity.

"If it is a case of, okay there are no fans on October 1, but actually it will be alright by the third week of October, then that is very different from saying there are no spectators in 2020 or no spectators for the rest of the season. We are just waiting for clarity as to where we stand."

Morris said Chester could lose between £200K and £300K this season if all games are played without fans and the club couldn't afford that.

However with live streaming of games and clauses in player's contracts that will reduce costs if the season is affected, Morris hopes costs can be lessened.

He remains very concerned about the future of football.

"I am privileged to be in contact with chairmen at other clubs involved in those conversations. There are clubs that are going to be in serious financial hardship because of this, because they perhaps haven’t prepared in such a way as we have to safeguard their future."