Dr Dan: Aston Villa could be set for ‘huge financial’ problem after major development
Aston Villa may have to pay out mass refunds to season ticket holders if Premier League games are forced to go behind closed doors.
So says finance expert Doctor Dan Plumley, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the possibility of further post-Christmas Covid restrictions.
Prime minister Boris Johnson has refused to guarantee that sporting events will not return to behind-closed-doors settings after 25 December.
First Minister for Wales Mark Drakeford has imposed an outright ban on fans in stadia, while SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has limited crowds to 500.
Per The Telegraph on Tuesday (21 December), there is fear among English top-flight clubs that supporters will be shut out after Boxing Day.
Plumley explains that this turn of events would lead to “huge financial and logistical problems” for the likes of Villa.
“It’s definitely not what they want,” the Sheffield Hallam University expert told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“Clubs like Villa, those in that mid-table bracket, the TV money makes up most of their revenue.
“Buts still, any hit to matchday revenue still hurts that bottom line. The problem behind closed doors creates problems with refunds.
“All of your season ticket money is accounted for. That’s just how clubs operate.
“We are halfway through the season. If games are being played and fans can’t see them, they might have to pay money back.
“Clubs would still prefer postponements to behind-closed doors. Any reduction in capacity would create huge logistical and financial problems.”
The Premier League have announced that there will be no sporting ‘circuit breaker’ during the festive period.
But Covid-enforced postponements mean that Villa will not have played for 12 days by the time they are due to face Chelsea on Boxing Day.
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