Fleetwood chairman Andy Pilley says: All politicians should "fight the good cause" to save community football clubs

Fleetwood Town chairman Andy Pilley has called for politicians of all parties to join the fight for financial support for football clubs.
Andy Pilley wants politicians of all persuasions to unite for footballAndy Pilley wants politicians of all persuasions to unite for football
Andy Pilley wants politicians of all persuasions to unite for football
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Football sleepwalking into abyss warns Pilley

The Town owner spoke out on the D3D4 football podcast this week, calling for the government and Premier League to agree a course of action to save clubs at lower levels from financial catastrophe and the threat of extinction.

As reported in yesterday’s Gazette, Pilley called on the Premier League to protect its “football family” by helping those in a critical condition.

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But he also feels there is a part for politicians to play and added: “The MPs need to remember that to win elections they must represent their community and football clubs are a massive part of the local community.

“It’s down to MPs to look after their communities and consider the pride, the positive effects on mental health and the opportunities that football clubs bring to their areas. They should fight the good cause and get on to the powers that be.

“The government is paying out £1.5billion to cultural organisations. My view is that football clubs are cultural organisations – I could not describe them any better. It is the culture of our country, so help us out in our hour of need.

“This is something that can’t rumble on and on because clubs are in a real mess.

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“I’d like to see all political parties shouting from the rooftops and hopefully all parties will get behind it.”

And at League One level, Pilley stressed that all clubs are affected, whatever their size and fanbase.

He explained: “There’s a misguided conception that the bigger, traditional clubs are OK. That’s not the case.

“The Portsmouths and Sunderlands will have built into their budgets considerable figures for crowd revenue, and if they don’t get that revenue it will affect those clubs in a big, big way.

“It’s not just the Rochdales and Fleetwoods – every club will be suffering in its own way.

“I don’t think any clubs are not feeling immense financial pain right now.”