Season ticket renewals 'critical' to helping keep Dons afloat

Weeks without football is certainly whetting the appetite of MK Dons supporters as they continue to renew their season tickets for the 2020/21 season, but it is also helping keep the lights on at the club.

With the coronavirus pandemic wreaking havoc all over the world, the EFL's postponement extension to April 30 means many clubs will suffer yet another month without any match-day income - the main source of money into almost all clubs at League One level.

Executive director Andrew Cullen said fans' eagerness to renew their season tickets for a season that does not even have a start date yet means the club is still able to tick over.

He said: "Something that has amazed us is the number of season tickets being renewed. During May and June, that's a big source of cash which gives you enough working capital over the summer months. People are coming in and renewing their season tickets and that's critical for us.

"We don't know when the 20/21 season will start, but it underlines the support we're so lucky to have. I want to thank everyone who has made that commitment already – it means a lot.

"Cash is very tight for football clubs – we're all reliant on match day income, but no club is having that over the next six or seven weeks. There are bills to pay, wages to pay across the board and it will create a lot of difficulties."

While the EFL have vowed to help all clubs during these difficult few weeks, Mr Cullen confirmed the money is an advance on funds they would have picked up later in the year, but will be vital to keep some clubs afloat.

"For all clubs, it is a very helpful measure the EFL have brought into place," he said. "It's not an injection of new money, but it enables clubs over what are some difficult times ahead. The EFL have advanced the central distribution payments.

"It's not new money, but the league stepping up to the mark and recognising the immense cash flow pressures and stresses, and they want to protect all 71 clubs in the league and make sure they're all in business when the season restarts."