The Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has told sport governing bodies that they should not expect to have supporters back in stadiums before the end of March.

The latest spike in COVID-19 cases means that plans to reintroduce some fans into Premier League grounds next month have been paused, with DCMS officials saying that the situation will be kept under review.

It would mean clubs would have an entire year without matchday revenue if the government’s decision to ban events with sizeable crowds remains in force.

Manchester City may not be as seriously hit as other clubs when it comes to finances, but the length of time without spectators will cause huge problems throughout the football pyramid in England.

Financial support for smaller clubs will likely be needed in order to ensure that some teams are able to stay afloat during an unprecedented time in the sport’s history.