Portsmouth’s position on fans returning to Fratton Park by September

The News understand the Blues view the chances of supporters returning to games at PO4 in the next few months as ‘slim’.

And if they are given the green light to open the door to their followers again, the likelihood is they would be doing so under a heavily-reduced capacity.

Pompey’s stance on the issue comes in the wake of FA chief executive, Mark Bullingham, setting the start of next season as the target date for fans returning to stadia.

Bullingham stated he was confident it would be realistic to look at that prospect occurring within the next three months.

That was a position echoed by culture secretary Oliver Dowden this week, when answering a question on fans returning at the government’s daily briefing.

That has raised hopes among followers of all clubs of a sizeable step being taken towards relative normality, in a week in which both the Premier League and EFL have returned.

The sense of optimism grew yesterday with the coronavirus alert level being reduced from four to three by the chief medical officer.

That, it’s hoped, will lead to an easing of restrictions, relaxing of the 2m rule and allowing pubs and restaurants to open again.

Pompey’s position sounds a note of caution, however, to those believing things will be returning to the way things were before the season was suspended in March.

The FA have been exploring a host options to getting fans safely back into stadiums, including mapping out the flow of fans in and out of grounds on a matchday.

They have also been looking at how they could incorporate different levels of social distancing between fans once they’re through the turnstiles.

There was reports last week the EFL are also investigating at the possibility of a September return for fans, although there’s been no official comment from them on the subject.

The prospect of supporters at games offers some kind of olive branch to clubs standing on the financial precipice in the wake of coronavirus crisis.

Pompey are looking at filling a financial black hole in their accounts with matchday revenue their key income.

The club’s most recently published accounts shows ticket sales and hospitality income generated £7.44m of the club’s £11.5m turnover, with sponsorship (£1.02m) and other football related income (£472,000) covering a further £1.49m.

Although clawing back some of that money with a limited capacity would appeal, it’s clear Pompey aren’t expecting to be able gain a significant financial boost from supporters attending games.

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