11 Jan 2010Cost of 'big freeze' estimated at £10m

Football Clubs News | Football Leagues/ Association and Governance

The large number of matches postponed due to extreme weather conditions has cost English football about £10 million so far, it has been claimed.

According to the Daily Mail, many clubs will be unable to recoup the cash because Christmas and new year fixtures that are rearranged for late January or February will attract smaller crowds and fewer hospitality packages.

While club directors in the top-flight are worrying about how fixture congestion will impact on their European campaigns, those in the lower divisions are working hard just to keep their clubs running.

League Two's Rotherham United have not played at home since December 5th and lost expected gate receipts of £60,000 for matches on December 19th and Boxing Day.

However, chairman Tony Stewart told the newspaper that the South Yorkshire outfit have the resources to cope with such disruption.

"It's not easy, but we put the cash into the club last season to prepare for the worst situation. You've also got to take into account that Rotherham, like all clubs, sold season tickets."

All ten League Two fixtures were called off on Saturday (January 9th), with just two matches going ahead in League One and three games surviving in the Championship.

Written by Paul Roberts

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