Empty stadium lost Wigan Athletic £1.5m in vital revenue

Insolvency practice Business Rescue Expert have been investigating the impact of Covid-19 on clubs across the top four tiers of English football.

For Latics, of course, the figure is dwarfed by the off-pitch financial travails involving its administration.

But the research still clearly shows how coffers across the Football League are depleted by clubs’ being unable to allow supporters in to watch their teams.

Wigan Athletic’s figure of £1,554,365 is actually the second-smallest loss of income in the Championship, with only Luton suffering less.

The cheapest ticket to watch Latics is £20, while the club could also expect to have its coffers swelled by fans buying pies and pints, the average cost of which are £2.80 and £3.50 respectively, as well as the £3 matchday programme.

The research underlines the stark gulf between the haves and have-nots even within the second tier, with promoted Leeds United losing out on a whopping £6.85m in matchday revenue in the pandemic.

Some clubs in League One, where Latics will play next season after an appeal against the 12-point deduction for going into administration failed, have also suffered far larger financial losses from playing without crowds, with Sunderland losing out on £4.5m and Portmouth £3.45m.

The authorities expect Wigan will not be the last club to stare into the financial abyss, with the Culture, Media and Sport Committee chair Julian Knight MP recently saying that “10 to 15 clubs could find themselves in the same position.”

The entire football league pyramid could find itself in difficulties post-coronavirus, with the analysis placing total matchday revenue losses across the four divisions at £305m.

Sport England has provided a £195m funding package and clubs have also been able to benefit from the government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, which enabled them to furlough staff during lockdown to reduce costs.

Again, though, Latics are in a much graver position as going into administration means jobs have already been lost.

A Business Rescue Expert spokesperson said: “At a time like this, football is not just a game, it’s a livelihood; for players who might only get a 10 to 15-year career, for managers, for sponsors, and for all those staff working at the 91 professional clubs who all face an uncertain future.

“Let’s hope teams across the country can weather the storm and line up for the start of the 2020-21 season — whenever it is and eventually with fans there to cheer them on as they have done for generations.”