Peterborough United’s Barry Fry has a radical plan to save lower league clubs from going out of business

Fry believes financial reckonings for many clubs will arrive not long after the coronavirus crisis has passed. Many lower league clubs fear many months without matchday income will be disastrous.

Fry agrees, but he has a solution. “We have to scrap the transfer window for lower division clubs. When I owned Posh for a couple of seasons the biggest problem was always cashflow so I’m glad I don’t own a club now as the situation must be horrific.

“If clubs do get through this current lockdown some will always be a mont or two away from going bust. If they have a bad December when a couple of matches get called off for bad weather that could become a tipping point.

“But if they are allowed to sell players at any time of the year they could budget better and get money into the club when they most need it.

“These are drastic times and we must do all we can to help clubs survive. The EFL are working hard and the clubs are in constant contact, but more needs to be done.”

One possible solution for the future has been put forward by Fleetwood chairman Andy Pilley who believes a return to regionalised football for the bottom two divisions will help, a suggestion backed by Gillingham’s former Posh boss Steve Evans.

The Football League ran a Third Division North and South until 1958 when they were replaced by Divisions Three and Four.

But Fry said: “I can see the attraction for some clubs, but it probably wouldn’t make any difference to us as we’re in the middle of the country.

“It is one of many subjects the clubs have been talking about, but I can’t see it happening just yet.”

Posh are thought to better off financially than many lower division clubs thanks to the patronage of three wealthy owners, although they have furloughed most non-playing staff.

Posh currently have no plans to furlough players.