Peterborough United chairman sets the record straight about EFL meetings, football’s future and looking after his club’s staff

MacAnthony has been viewed as a bad guy by clubs who just want the 2019-20 season to end thanks to his many public pronouncements on the current situation in the EFL.

MacAnthony acted a spokesman for six clubs at a meeting of League One clubs last Friday who are chasing promotion and who want the current campaign to finish whenever it is safe to do so.

Nothing was decided at that meeting. Indeed no voting took place. The EFL board are due to meet tomorrow (May 20) with clubs likely to be asked to vote on numerous scenarios by the end of the week.

Tonight MacAnthony used his @DMAC102 Twitter account to deliver a lengthy personal message about the last meeting, football’s immediate future and his determination not to lose a single member of staff because of the coronavirus crisis.

MacAnthony said: “So much vitriol on here from one set of fans over last few days. Irony is they have no need to be aiming it this way. In time they will realize that. Just a few transparent points to clarify as facts are better than fiction or speculation.

“In the EFL meeting last week there was no talk of a vote that day, there were no raised voices, nobody laying the law down. Just all clubs having their voices heard regardless of size. Talks about current season & future season & issues we all face financially.

“The appetite for most in the top-half was to play our season out. Majority of other half had no desire to play due to finances which is understandable in current pandemic from their point of view. Ideas were thrown around on how top half can play games to decide fair way to finish which allowed the clubs not wanting to play to get on with not stressing over contract extensions or financial side of starting up again. EFL Chairman said let’s all think about it and come up creative ideas to finish the season.

“For the top half the financial implications of not playing again in some way versus cost of playing was large with potential refunds on so many things hence importance of hearing both sides of our league and its clubs

“I am ok being portrayed as some sort of lone wolf villain, but truth is there are more clubs then just me who feel football needs to return for them & everybody involved of course have looked at all options including legal ones as they are large businesses with shareholders’ financial responsibilities that make it the right and prudent thing to do.

“There is no one-size-fits-all solution that suits all clubs, but compromises could/should be found. We are all ‘football’ clubs & our product is football & with potential greenlight by Government coming for football returning nany clubs wanted to get back to playing football in any situation that allows it/in safe professionally advised way. None of this is holding up other clubs planning for future even if hibernation is their plan. Even if our season finished two weeks ago there is no set date for new season/details on immediate horizon due to what’s going on in the world so this idea of clubs wanting to get on with ‘planning’ is just not true or feasible.

“For weeks I have advocated for football to resume when safe to do so, but also I have engaged with EFL directly about ideas on how to raise the funds necessary to help all football clubs through this crisis as after 15 years in the EFL.

“I don’t want to see anymore clubs go under. This is still my main goal regardless of some of the nonsense levied at me.

“Furloughs won’t last forever. Football with/without fans will happen as shown in other countries. Hibernation in my opinuion won’t be an option for clubs contracted to play football with TV deals in place/contracts with players in place.

“Our club employs a large number of non-footballing staff who are in £18k-£35k per year bracket. One of the goals of me/partners is to ensure when furlough ends that we don’t lose any of these people because of this crisis. I am a football fan like majority of people on here.

“If some club fans/forums want to make me out to be the bad guy then have at it, but I am a football person with a love for our game & worry that without playing football when allowed, then what do we have left? I am thick skinned to take the criticism if fair/balanced or if the views are different from mine. But to accuse me of being greedy is another irony considering in 15 years in football I have not made a pound note from our beautiful game.

“Some won’t admit it, but truth is that you would want me fighting your corner in a crisis & my ‘football’ club & its employees have told me to fight for their jobs long term. I will always do that regardless of criticism/public perception. For now I have said my piece & will get on with fighting for ‘football’ long term.

“This horrible virus will be defeated, normality will come back & our beautiful game will be back.

“Our EFL will find a way to help us through the hard period financially & I long for the days of getting trolled for football results & opinions on transfers. Love to you all.”