[Sport] Delayed return of fans could have 'devastating impact' on sport - Tranmere vice-chair Nicola Palios

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The postponement of plans for fans to return to sporting events in England may lead to the "devastating impact" of football clubs folding, says Tranmere Rovers vice-chair Nicola Palios.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday plans for some fans to return from 1 October will not go ahead.

The Premier League said it was "disappointed" by the announcement.

It added that "the football economy is unsustainable" without fans attending matches.

Palios told BBC Sport "the impact could be quite devastating" for many clubs throughout the English football league system.

"A lot of clubs were already having financial difficulties before this pandemic started and this may sadly tip some of them over the edge," she said.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden held a meeting with representatives of the major sports later on Tuesday to discuss the decision and talk about the request for a sports recovery fund

Following the meeting, Bill Sweeney, the chief executive of the Rugby Football Union, said no spectators at the forthcoming Autumn Nations Cup or Six Nations will result in losses of £106m.

He said: "We understand the difficult balance government faces.

"From the outset we have been clear that an autumn without crowds would leave us with little choice but to approach government for financial help. Unfortunately, we are now in that position.

"No crowds at Twickenham for the autumn internationals, the Premiership in October or the Championship and community game will, however, have severe consequences.

"Without support we are in danger of clubs at the heart of communities across England, as well as players and volunteers, disappearing forever."

The England and Wales Cricket Board said it welcomed the "constructive" meeting with Dowden.

"The impact of having to stage cricket behind closed doors again next year would be severe," a statement said.

"We will continue to work with the government over the coming days and weeks to ensure the challenges facing our sport are understood and can be overcome."

The proposals to allow fans to return to sporting events were placed under review earlier this month after a rise in coronavirus cases. Pilot events in September had already been restricted to 1,000 people, but the pilot programme will now also be paused.

Palios said League Two side Tranmere were "lucky" to be "better off than most" but had had to spend money put aside for capital projects on "staying afloat" instead.

"If a rescue fund isn't forthcoming you'll see a devastating impact in terms of loss of clubs and job losses," she added.

"It's not just job losses within the clubs themselves, it's all the other businesses in the local area that are supported by them and survive because of them.

"We've already seen Macclesfield disappear and I fear there are more to follow if the rescue package isn't forthcoming.

"The full return of fans is the key thing as playing in front of 1,000 or 3,000 fans is actually more costly for the clubs than playing behind closed doors, certainly for those clubs who have sold season tickets for the current season."

Macclesfield Town, who were relegated from the English Football League (EFL) at the end of the 2019-20 season, were wound up in the High Court over debts totalling more than £500,000 last week.

Johnson outlined the new measures after the UK's Covid-19 alert level moved to 4, meaning transmission is "high or rising exponentially".

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, cabinet office minister Michael Gove announced the government were pausing the staged programme of fans returning but wanted to "make sure that, as and when circumstances allow, we get more people back".