Hartlepool United manager Dave Challinor on 'crucial' support package to help keep National League clubs afloat without crowds due to coronavirus
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and live on Freeview channel 276
Pools, along with the rest of the National League clubs, will start their season behind closed doors this weekend after going almost seven months without any form of matchday revenue.
Fortunately, Government funding has been secured in the form of a grant that will support clubs and help subsidise the significant revenue lost from not having supporters in attendance due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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Hide AdAnd Challinor feels that without the funding, clubs wouldn’t have been able to complete the season.
“The funding, it’s absolutely crucial,” the Pools boss told The Mail.
“This situation has affected different clubs differently, but long term it affects everybody.
“Over the course of the season, I think there are very few clubs who would be able to survive without that funding. Especially if we don’t get crowds in for the whole season.
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Hide Ad"For that to be put in place, it allows breathing space for clubs and hopefully, by the time things get sorted out, we can start planning to get crowds back in and there is an income generated for clubs.”
Hartlepool start their season against Aldershot Town at Victoria Park this Saturday (3pm kick-off) and for the first time ever, the club will be offering a pay per view live stream of a competitive league match.
The match can be viewed for £9.99 using this link: https://insight4.azurewebsites.net/stream/cUwwRG5a. Season ticket holders will be able to access the stream for free and will be emailed their login details.