Preston North End boss fears worst effects of pandemic yet to come and predicts Championship salary cap

And the North End manager believes it is only going to be a matter of time before the Championship implements salary caps which will make the gap between the Premier League and the second tier even wider.

Neil revealed how tough it has been for him to prepare a team each week to play football over the last six months amid the shadow of coronavirus.

Away from football, Neil has witnessed the devastating consequences the virus has had on the wider community, families and livelihoods.

And while football has managed to find a way to continue, albeit in the sterile atmosphere of empty stadiums, the Preston boss is of the firm belief that difficult times lie ahead for the sport.

“It’s been a challenging year for everyone,” said Neil, who takes his team to face Derby County at Pride Park for this afternoon’s Boxing Day clash.

“I am not just talking about me or the team or results, I am talking in general.

“Although you want to keep your optimism at a high level and be positive, it’s not been a good year.

“A lot of people have lost their lives, a lot of families are struggling because parents are not working, you’ve got the whole Brexit thing and then you’re hearing stories of the virus mutating and getting worse.

“There are a lot of things going on with the restrictions and families are not able to spend time with each other.

“It hasn’t been a great year and football is no different.

“I think the severity of the full impact of the pandemic is yet to be felt on football. I think that is coming and it’s going to be painful.

“What tends to happen in football is if it’s not happening in front of you then it’s not happening.

“My worry is that we go and stick our heads in the sand because it’s going to be felt right across the board.

“You can see it already in League One and Two implementing salary cap restrictions.

“I think that is going to be introduced in the Championship at some point – probably at the end of this season.

“Then that makes the gap between the Championship and the Premier League even bigger.

“It has been challenging times for the club but I think real life puts football into perspective sometimes.”

Preston head to Pride Park this afternoon looking to secure back-to-back victories for only the second time this season. They sit 15th in the Championship table, seven points off the play-offs.

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