Peterborough United keen for the return of fans before Christmas as weak iFollow figures are revealed, but it could be a tiny crowd cap anyway
Peterborough United co-owner Darragh MacAnthony is desperate to get fans back into the Weston Homes Stadium ahead of potentially lucrative home games against Ipswich Town (December 19) and Charlton (December 29).
Posh, like every other lower league club, are suffering financially in the absence of fans. The money raised from fans watching matches live on the erratic iFollow service is minimal in comparison.
MacAnthony said: “We have made £30k from iFollow so far this season after 12 games. You do the maths. Football clubs without fans are dead clubs walking.”
Posh have been averaging 2,400 iFollow subscribers per home game, but many are season ticket holders who don’t pay for the service.
Officials at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport are understood to have submitted proposals to the Cabinet Office which would allow fans into EFL matches where the Covid infection rates are low, once the current lockdown ends on December 2.
Posh also host Rochdale on December 12.
But it has now emerged those proposals involve a maximum of 1,000 supporters at a game regardless of stadium size.
The UK Government is due to announce a £300k aid package for sport today (November 19), but football won’t be a beneficiary.
The Government believes there is enough wealth in the Premier League to ensure the survival of EFL clubs.