Andrew Rosindell M.P. has written to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, the Rt. Hon. Oliver Dowden M.P. to his express his concern that DCMS have switched from offering assistance to National League football clubs, including Dagenham and Redbridge FC, in the form of grants into loans.
Writing in the letter, Andrew urged the Culture Secretary to "reverse this decision and provide the full £20 million announced in the form of grants, which is what clubs had been led to believe would be the case in previous discussions."
The letter continues by noting that "National League clubs are still losing significant amounts of revenue because of restrictions on supporters attending and playing behind closed doors."
He expresses particular concern for local Havering club, Dagenham and Redbridge FC.
As the letter notes, Dagenham and Redbridge FC, along with other National League clubs, "have lost significant revenue during the pandemic, even when accounting for the extra Government support."
The letter adds that football clubs "will also be required to make significant salary payments and cover other bills in the next 10 days, and are worried that if they cannot receive assurances from your department that they will be able to receive further financial assistance in the form of grants, that they will have to take advantage of the furlough scheme instead." He watns that if enough clubs were to take this decision, "it would mean the effective end of the National League season."
