Gillingham chairman Paul Scally admits club faces very real threat of folding in next three months when speaking with Sky Sports earlier this week.
He has said the League One side are at risk of running out of money amid the financial implications of the coronavirus outbreak.
Following the suspension of football across the country, concerns grow on how much it will impact on lower-league clubs.
It’s reported that the British government has pledged £330billion to help small British businesses deal with the crisis, support clubs in the lower divisions of English football are eligible for.
? | Chairman Paul Scally is preparing to go live on @SkySportsNews. #Gills pic.twitter.com/VjV1rVTROd
— Gillingham FC (@TheGillsFC) March 18, 2020
Despite this, Paul Scally, speaking exclusively to Sky Sports News, said: “Assuming we can come to an arrangement with HMRC, not so much defer payments but have a holiday of not paying any HMRC payments for the next three months we can then use that money to keep the staff going.
“Obviously staff will have to come to arrangements with their own mortgage companies, banks or car loan companies to maybe have a holiday of three months of not paying payments there.
“So, if we can give enough money that staff can buy essentials like food, put petrol in their cars so that they can get around [and] look after their families then I think we can probably last two or three months.
“After that the cash we do have will run out and I don’t have any solution past two or three months.”
Barnet recently announced that they are making 60 non-playing staff redundant for “emergency measures to preserve the club.”
Owner Tony Kleanthous called on the Premier League to create a financial rescue fund for clubs lower down.
And former footballer turned manager Jamie Redknapp also called on more to be done from those at the top of the game.
"So many smaller clubs could go out of business from this…" ?
— Goal News (@GoalNews) March 18, 2020
Speaking on The Debate, he said: “When the world is better and we can all reset, it’s vitally important the Premier League and other clubs help and do whatever they can to keep clubs going.
“So many smaller clubs could go out of business from this, they are going to need a bit of help. It wouldn’t harm the Premier League clubs, given all the money the league creates, to agree to do something.”
Fans reacted as the Gillingham chairman admits the club faces very real threat of folding…
Worrying comments from Paul Scally this morning, we certainly aren’t going to be the only club that is going to struggle financially during this period #Gills
— LH (@gfclouis) March 18, 2020
Hopefully it will come to nothing if things start to pick up and look brighter with this coronavirus outbreak but am somewhat concerned now myself..
— Smithy (@lillegs85) March 18, 2020
There has to be some kind of payment scheme set up for the clubs in the lower league with less money. Maybe parachute payments from the premier league or something ??♂️.
— Jamie (@jamiebelsham2) March 18, 2020
The Chairman on Sky Sports News suggesting with football on hold the club can go 2-3 months before money runs out. Nice touch to allow kids to play on the Priestfield pitch with no games coming anytime soon #Gills
— The Gills Fancast (@GillsFancast) March 18, 2020
Why not put all games on ifollow for 10 note behind closed doors I’m sure majority would pay
— warren potts (@warren_potts93) March 18, 2020
We will run out of money in 3 to 4 months!! #Gills ?
— Reece (@ReeceBoast) March 18, 2020
Not being funny but there’s one main reason we are running out. Scally takes all the money out the club for himself
— james (@james21636016) March 18, 2020

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