Fleetwood Town and BES Utilities chairman Andy Pilley: 'My refuse-to-lose attitude means I'm not worried about the future - but I'm not scared of cutting costs'

And Andy Pilley, who is also the owner and chairman at Fleetwood Town Football Club, which is heavily reliant on his funding, criticised the banks, and said he has been told he would be unlikely to get a loan to help the company.

He told The Gazette: “I think it’s fair to say that whatever business you are in, virtually whatever sector you are in, you are going to feel financial pain,” but said it was “not possible” to put a figure on it yet.

“I know I will come out the other end with all my businesses because I have a refuse-to-lose attitude, and I’m not afraid of making tough decisions if need be.

"If cost cutting has to occur, then I will make those decisions, but I think it’s about getting a business plan together to find your way through what are exceptionally difficult times.”

Like much of Town’s non-playing staff, Mr Pilley said “some” staff at BES Utilities have been placed on the Government’s furlough scheme, which he described as “excellent”.

He said: “We have paid a lot of money in taxes over the years so I don’t feel guilty in taking the Government’s help on the occasion we really need it, but we still have to have a significant amount of staff working, given that people rely on us for the supply of electricity.”

Mr Pilley, who publicly backed the Conservatives before the last general election, said the Government has “done all you can ask in a very, very difficult situation” but warned “the job is far from done yet”.

He said Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s pledge to help struggling firms with loans was “very good” in theory, but said: “I do think the banks have not done enough, and I think it’s easier for them

to say no.

“I have been very disappointed by the response of our banks so far.

"We are nearly 20 years established, we make profit year in, year out, and we get told there’s a very low probability of us having a loan.

"Now, I don’t know if we are going to need a loan or not, but what I do know is it would be irresponsible of me not to explore having a facility in place.

“The Chancellor said this money would be available. I think the banks are not on the same page as the Chancellor.

“I think the banks should remember it was ourselves – the UK taxpayers – who bailed them out just over 10 years ago when they so badly mismanaged their businesses.

"I think they owe us one and they should do what the Government has told them to do.”

Banks have lent £2.8 billion through the Government’s scheme to 16,600 businesses, but more than 36,000 have applied for loans – an acceptance rate of just 48 per cent, Conservative MP Peter Bone said this week.

He said bankers have a “duty to help save the country” but said they “don’t seem to have any morals”.

He added: “Their response to the national emergency has been marked by indifference, greed, and self-interest.

"Why is it taking banks so long to provide support to small and medium-sized businesses when the Government are guaranteeing 80 per cent of the loans and paying for all the fees and interest in the first year?”

Mr Pilley said BES Utilities was helping its customers – a majority of which are commercial – by scrapping estimated meter readings.

“If people are not consuming, then we will not bill them,” he said.

“And if they are consuming a very small amount, then we will only bill them for a very small amount. It’s not estimated bills like in normal times.

“We have to help our customers through this period of time, as we want to be helped through it by the other people we trade with.”

Mr Pilley also expressed his thanks to the NHS, its heroic medics, and all key workers “for all they have done”.