MINISTERS will today unveil a massive £300million Covid bailout for struggling British sports – but nothing yet for hobbled football league clubs, Trending In The News can reveal.
The cash will help keep clubs and teams afloat without fans this winter as plans are yet again delayed to get fans back into grounds and stadiums because of soaring virus rates.
The cash will go to rugby union, horse racing and low level semi-pro men’s and women’s football.
Rugby league, motorsport, tennis, netball, basketball, ice hockey, badminton and greyhound racing also in line to benefit in the “winter survival package”.
But negotiations are ongoing between the Premier League and smaller professional clubs about a football industry funded bailout demanded by ministers.
The package will be presented by Culture and Sports boss Oliver Dowden in the House of Commons this afternoon.
Last night a source close to him told Trending In The News: “The funding, which will be largely composed of loans, is the most generous of any Government for its domestic sport sector in the world, and will focus on sports severely impacted over the winter.”
On Monday Boris Johnson vowed to his MPs that he would “bring the fans back” to sports, adding: “Don’t run away with it but we need to do much better.”
He said: “I pledge that when we come out of lockdown on December 2 we will work to have the crowds to come back.”
