'Let fans back inside Victory Park' - chairman Ken Wright says the Magpies will die without crowds

Chorley chairman Ken Wright has pleaded with the powers-that-be to allow fans through the turnstiles at Victory Park else the club will go out of business by Christmas.
Ken WrightKen Wright
Ken Wright

The Magpies host Gateshead in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup on Saturday.

It will be the club’s first competitive fixture of the 2020/21 season – their opening league game is scheduled for the following Tuesday away to York City followed by the visit of Gloucester City on Saturday, October 10.

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As it stands, all of these games are due to be played behind closed doors due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Indeed under Government guidelines laid down last week, it is unlikely any supporters will be allowed inside National League, Football League and Premier League stadiums within the next six months.

The prospect of an empty Victory Park for games will mean that the Magpies will not be able to continue as a going concern by the new year – unless a financial package to help them survive is forthcoming from the Government or the Premier League.

Last week 81% of clubs in the NL North voted in favour of not starting the new season if fans were not allowed inside the grounds or a financial package could not be agreed.

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As far as Wright is concerned the simplest of solutions to help clubs like Chorley would be to allow them to operate Victory Park at a reduced capacity.

Clubs lower down the football pyramid are still able to play in front of reduced crowds with strict social distancing and Wright sees no reason why Chorley cannot implement similar measures.

Bizarrely, as things stand, clubs like Bamber Bridge and Lancaster City, who are in the division below Chorley, are permitted to play in front of a maximum of 600 supporters yet Chorley are unable to let one fan through the turnstiles.

“It’s a ridiculous situation which we find ourselves in at the moment,” said Wright.

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“We are considered to be an elite level club. That is why we are not allowed to let fans in to our ground.

“We played Bamber Bridge in a pre-season friendly. They were able to host us in front of a crowd and they did so very successfully.

“But we couldn’t have done that. We would not have been allowed to host Bamber Bridge. It beggars belief.

“At the weekend, non-league football was being played in front of 400, 500 or 600 people in some games.

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“They were the sort of gates that small non-league clubs attract.

“We are fortunate that we are well supported. I think our average attendance was 1,400 last season.

“There was talk at one stage that grounds could hold 30%of what they are licensed to and we certainly could live with that. If we don’t get gate receipts then we will die.

“We can’t live without gate receipts, it’s as simple as that.”

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Wright revealed that the Magpies are still planning ahead for the season to kick-off this weekend, but admits some big decisions may have to be made over the next few days.

The big quandary for clubs in the National League is once the competitive action begins, then they are obliged to fulfil players’ contracts.

“It’s whether or not the powers-that-be are going to find a way of helping clubs at our level,” he said.

“The National League say they are in negotiations with the powers-that-be but there is no news at this stage with regards to that. We could probably live with a little bit of good fortune by the turn of the year.

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“Unless we are in a position where crowds are allowed to come back, inevitably with restrictions, then the future is not bright at all for non-league clubs at our level, or indeed any EFL club for that matter.

“There are major issues. Once we start playing, then the player contract situation kicks in. We are obligated to then start paying the players.

“That is something we wouldn’t be able to do with no income coming in. The legalities of all that are just a bit frightening.”