League One clubs ‘face £850k hit each’ due to coronavirus reveals Peterborough chairman MacAnthony

LEAGUE ONE clubs are each set for an £850,000 hit if their season is not completed.

Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony detailed how every side in English football’s third tier will suffer the consequences if the EFL are forced to declare the current campaign null and void.

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Posh's MacAnthony, speaking on his podcast ‘Football Club Chairman - Hard Truth’, said: “Right now the majority of clubs have completed 77 to 78 per cent of the season, so there’s 22 per cent to be completed.

“If the season is voided and it’s 23 per cent incomplete here’s what will happen.

“In a typical year we get paid around £1.7m in EFL and solidarity money to play 44 games of football.

“Take 23 per cent of that and it’s about £390,000 to £400,000. So by rights if we void the season and have fallen short we will need to give refunds.

“So about £400,000 we'd have to refund the EFL and solidarity payments to the Premier League.

“Now look at season ticket refunds. Most fans have been really good about this and haven’t made a run on refunds for games.

“But let’s say there’s some fans who want a refund, let’s say we void the season and they don’t get to watch those games.

“We’re talking about season-ticket refunds in the region of £80,000 to £150,000 quite possibly. Add that to the EFL and solidarity and we’re well over £500,000.

“Most sponsorship deals are £150,000 to £500,000 in League One, depending on who you are.

“Let’s say our sponsorship say we’ve defaulted on that contract and they decided to sue back for the 23 per cent. Let’s take an average of £150,000.

“I’ve calculated the refund bill would be £750,000 to £850,000. There’s your void bill.”