Wellens confident of Premier League support package after fans U-turn

RICHIE WELLENS has called for the Premier League's television rights money to be shared out more equally amongst the 72 teams in the EFL after the latest government decision to not allow fans into stadiums cast the future of many clubs into doubt as financial uncertainty continues to grow.

Total Sport Swindon’s Ryan Walker spoke to the Swindon Town manager ahead of this weekend’s League One fixture against Burton Albion.

Amidst a rise in Coronavirus cases throughout the United Kingdom, the British Government made a U-turn on its decision to allow sections of fans back into football stadiums as more and more areas of the nation are placed into local lockdowns. 

However, after months without financial support from matchday attendances, many EFL clubs now face financial uncertainty as they work out how to survive and balance the books as a new season of football gains momentum.

Speaking to Total Sport Swindon about the financial strain the Coronavirus pandemic has had on clubs, Swindon Town manager Richie Wellens admitted he is confident that Premier League clubs will come to the rescue but urged television rights money to be split more fairly between the divisions.

“I think [the government announcement] was a devastating blow for football with supporters not being allowed into stadiums, especially when you see people in pubs and supermarkets who are in a closed environment and are still walking past each other,” he said.

“The financial support will come and I think it has to come. Frank Lampard has come out and said the Premier League should help these clubs.

“What’s interesting is the Sky deal at the moment is the biggest Sky deal ever given out and if there’s anyone that would get a good deal out of this then you would expect it to be Rick Parry.

“The Premier League is the best advert for football in the World, but I think everyone believes that the money isn’t shared out equally,” he added.

“This football pyramid we are in, these 72 football clubs year in year out provide players to the Premier League, and if they weren’t there then there wouldn’t be any Ollie Watkins for example. 

“He would’ve started out at Exeter, wouldn’t have got a club because they would’ve gone bust and could be working in a supermarket now. 

“Instead Exeter gave him a foundation to work from, then he got his move to Brentford, they gave him the next step on the ladder and now he’s just moved to Aston Villa for £30 Million,” said Wellens. 

“I think the Premier League money should be shared out more equally.

“The infuriating thing is that Sky have a pot of over £1 Billion and they have an opportunity to share it, but we get only £1.2 Million. 

“I know we don’t feature on Sky much but they could easily say here’s one extra million just to help you get through this pandemic.

“I don’t agree in giving us a loan which we have to pay back. That would help but if you were to take a couple of million pounds off each Premier League club and then disperse that between League One and Two clubs, that would help massively and they wouldn’t even notice it,” he said.

The stringent safety measures implemented in professional football around the globe has seen players and staff frequently tested for Coronavirus as elite sport looks to isolate itself in a protective bubble. 

And whilst the general public continues to come to grips with the ever-changing scenarios the government imposes to help stop the spread of the virus, Wellens explained that it’s life as normal for him and his players.

“We are just going about our daily lives as normal,” said Wellens.

“We know that we are more or less 100% immune to this virus. 

“I wouldn’t be going to training and then mixing with my grandparents for example. 

“It’s important that people who are vulnerable try and live their life for the foreseeable future until the virus goes away,” he added.

“You look at David Moyes, Josh Cullen, and Issa Diop for example, they didn’t even know they had the virus. 

“Where some people might have symptoms, in the main these professional footballers are so fit that the virus doesn’t even do anything to them.

“Whilst we’re very aware of what’s going on in the world, once we’re out doing our job we need to live life as normal as possible,” said Wellens.

However whilst little may have changed on the pitch, Wellens highlighted the strain that social conditions have on a players mental health, revealing that a psychiatrist was working with the squad to help support their mental wellbeing.

“100% we have to look after our players and staff’s mental health,” stated Wellens.

“When we heard the news conference it had an effect on our mental health straightaway.

“We don’t want to play football because it’s like playing a pre-season friendly every week. 

“It's great that football is back on tv but it’s exactly like a pre-season friendly and it’s so difficult,” he added.

“We have a psychologist who comes in every week and speaks to the players because it is important to look after these lads.

“They have so much energy and time on their hands, and when you’re sat in an apartment on your own that’s when you could turn to things like gambling. 

“We’re well aware we need to look after their mental health because they can be vulnerable,” said Wellens.