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Gillingham chairman Paul Scally has once again called on the Premier League to help save lower-league clubs.
Six months on from s uggesting each of the 20 top-flight clubs should contribute £2.5m towards those in the English Football League , he has again asked for support.
His latest plea comes as new government measures, enforced due to a second wave of Covid-19, mean fans will remain locked out of elite level matches.
The government had been allowing pilot events with up to 1,000 fans inside Football League stadia but that’s been scrapped, as has a possible re-opening of turnstiles in October.
For clubs like Gillingham, reliant on matchday revenue, it’s a bitter blow.
In an interview in The Mirror, Mr Scally revealed that the Gills were losing £40,000 a week and that their future was in the balance.
Echoing the words of former boss and club legend Andy Hessenthaler, who spoke to the KM earlier on Tuesday and spoke of his fear for football , Mr Scally said: “We should be a family in football. We’ve been a family for 125 years and now when a member of the family is struggling badly it’s time for wealthy big brother to step up and help the family. It’s as simple as that.
“I’ve just got to hope that the Premier League do the right thing and I’m putting my faith in them, Rick Parry and the EFL to come to the rescue.”
The co-owner of Peterborough United has warned that clubs will fold in League 1 if fans aren’t allowed in this season. Scally said his club would be fortunate to make it to Christmas.
Gills boss Steve Evans has also called for support, saying: “The Premier League need to look at themselves. I still see transfers of £50-£60-£70 million and clubs in League 1 and 2 who are struggling to survive.
"Maybe some of them forget where their players come from at one point.”
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