No Football Until It’s Safe And Appropriate To Play

Rotherham United will not be in action again until ‘it’s safe and appropriate to do so’ after a meeting today extended the postponement indefinitely.

The original date for re-starting the season was 3rd April which was then put back until 30th April before today’s meeting by the English football bodies made the above announcement – which, let’s be honest, is the only thing they could have done.

Should the season eventually re-start then the usual end of June will have to be extended – but how that will work for player contracts hasn’t yet been decided. The games could be played behind closed doors but would they be able to start before the beginning of June? I’d doubt that. The season could be cancelled altogether, it could be finished as it is now with teams in promotion positions going up and with no play-offs meaning, in League One, that the team in third would also get promoted. Or the season would start when able and carry on until the finish which would then have a knock-on effect on next season.

And, of course, all this is talking about league football – there are still teams involved in Cup football and European Cup games, which is another headache for the powers who be to have to sort out.

Many clubs have put non-playing staff on furlough while players have been asked to take a cut in wages while others are being asked to defer their wages. The Millers will probably have to ask their staff to do one or more of those. It’s easy, no fans, no money coming in. And I can’t see playing behind closed doors making a difference to that scenario.

As far as I can see there isn’t going to be a solution to this problem until we are over the coronavirus which, for all our sake, let’s hope that is sooner rather than later.

Keep Safe.

Up The Millers.