Continuing the season would cost MK Dons £500,000

The cost of finishing the currently 2019/20 season could cost MK Dons HALF A MILLION POUNDS, according to Executive Director Andrew Cullen.

With League One clubs still at deadlock in deciding what to do with the remaining fixtures in the calendar, the EFL released a set of guidelines on Thursday confirming promotion and relegation would still go ahead irrespective.With Premier League teams returning to training this week, albeit under scrutiny with smaller groups and non-contact sessions, the cost implications of football's tentative return look set to hit lower league clubs harder.

Mr Cullen explained: "We have worked all the financial stuff out. It would cost us a huge amount to play without crowds, probably about £140,000 in testing which we'd be obliged to do. At least every player and staff member would be tested twice a week, with PPE equipment, and we'd be bringing people back off furlough.

"Technically, it would cost us in the region of £500,000 to continue, and without any income, that puts an immediate amount of stress on us. But we can do it. We've got support from the bank, who have been fantastic."

Though there has been no confirmed date for clubs to return to training as yet, Mr Cullen said clubs have been sent guidelines to prepare for football's return and that Dons are ready for it.

He continued: "We've had a set of return to training protocols send through, we've prepared a number of risk assessments and if we do have to return, we're ready to go."