EFL chairman Rick Parry has admitted there is a possibility that the start of the 2020/21 season could be played behind closed doors.
The football season remains suspended due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and has been since mid-March.
The Premier League remains in negotiations about a return to action to complete the 2019/20 season, with several different proposals put forward.
One of which is to play the remainder of the season without fans and in neutral venues, which has received some opposition from those clubs fighting relegation.
Whilst the financial income from TV revenue is far less than that in the Premier League, the EFL will be reliant on that money should they be forced to play behind closed doors.
As a result of the financial impact on EFL clubs and the ongoing health crisis, Parry has admitted talks need will continue about whether the 2020/21 season is played behind closed doors.
“We still have broadcasting and sponsorship contracts, which we have to bear in mind," Parry told the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
"I think one statistic from 2018 is a really interesting one, Premier League wages were £2.9bn, the TV deal was £3bn, so you could say the TV deal covered the wages of the Premier League clubs.
“EFL wages in 2018 were £1bn, the TV contract was £100m, only 10% of the wages. At League One and League Two level, gate receipts represent 32% of income, it’s slightly less in the Championship. Gate receipts are absolutely fundamental and that applies not just to this season but increasingly it applies to next season.
“We have to think long and hard about how we go about restarting next season, or indeed whether we restart next season without crowds.”
