Coronavirus: Adrian Teer calls for support for local football clubs as they face uncertain future

With football suspended to at least April 4th there will be no gate receipts or matchday revenue for clubs.

Teer has called on the IFA to put a plan in place to ease fears as the pandemic spreads and with the likelihood of a lengthier lockdown being put in place.

The Lurgan Blues chairman says this is one of a number of pressing issues which will be discussed at Wednesday's NIFL Premiership Management Committee with a representative from each of the twelve Premiership clubs in attendance.

Another key area on the agenda will be how to conclude the season.

"I’m aware quite a few of our Premiership clubs feel very strongly that the IFA should be supporting the cash flows of clubs during this potentially difficult financial time and would expect the issue to be raised at this week’s Premiership Management Committee (PMC) meeting," he told the Glenavon website.

"We are awaiting the outcome of a UEFA video conference call on Tuesday at which the UEFA Executive Committee will discuss European football’s response to the virus outbreak with all 55 national associations. NIFL is anticipating that “these discussions will enable us to develop an action plan to conclude the remainder of the season”.

"Personally I do not share the IFA’s optimism in their statement of last Friday – “we expect games to restart on Saturday 4 April” – and fear it could well be much longer than that. If indeed the 2019/20 season is ever to restart, who knows?

"At present clubs have not been given any guidance or directive regarding training. Should the season not resume in April, but indications are that it will within subsequent months, that scenario may well pose questions for some clubs in relation to contracts and wages.

"Then there is the factor of already booked managers/backroom staff/players/volunteers etc annual holiday arrangements – and I haven’t mentioned essential remedial grounds work programmed for the summer months.

"Our Premiership clubs already would seem to have various options to consider – e.g. stop the league now at 31 games; try to play the two outstanding rounds which would mean all clubs would have met each other three times; delay the start of the 2020/21 season in order to complete this one, etc.

"A decisive factor would seem to be when UEFA would need to be advised of our European representatives for 2020/21 and that’s assuming Champions League and Europa League will get underway as currently scheduled.

"Arrangements for the semi finals and final of this season’s Irish Cup are of course a matter for the IFA to resolve and not NIFL or its PMC."