Chesterfield chief executive calls for financial support from government for National League clubs with big decision on season expected later

On Tuesday the government scrapped a plan for supporters to be allowed back in grounds from October 1.

The new National League season is set to start on October 3 but there are doubts it will be able to go-ahead with no supporters providing vital matchday income for clubs.

The National League board is meeting this afternoon to decide where to go from from here.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast at the Technique Stadium this morning, Mr Croot, said: “It is devastating for the National League. We can’t cancel the season, we have got to play football.

“The National League as whole needs around £20m, it needs money quickly. Clubs are in real dire straits with it.

“We were planning on having money coming in this week, we were selling tickets for two matches. Unfortunately we were told some weeks ago it would be impractical to sell season tickets but we were relying on that cashflow coming in, it has caused real issues.

“There is more to a football club than just turning up on a Saturday afternoon. This club is almost 155 years old, it is the bedrock of the town.

“We have got to get through somehow. The way through is we need support, we need the government on board with us.”

Father and son, Tim and Alex Fleming, also speaking to BBC Breakfast, are feeling very uneasy about the current situation with their beloved club.

Tim said: “We are very, very worried. Me and Alex, as father and son, have gone to games home and away every Saturday and we are very, very concerned about what is going to happen now fans aren’t allowed back in.”

Alex added: “It’s not just now that we are worried that we are not able to get in, it is whether there is going to be a club there after if we can’t get through the financial side of it.”