Aston Villa chief Christian Purslow: We need fans back
Villa chief executive Christian Purslow is hopeful supporters could be allowed back into football grounds from the start of next season.
The 2019/20 Premier League campaign finally resumed last night after a break of more than three months but all remaining fixtures must be played behind closed doors.
Purslow has vowed to push for fans to return to stadiums in some capacity from when next season begins in September.
He said: “I think the best-case scenario (for fans returning) is the new season.
“If I was an accurate predictor on the shape of a global pandemic, life would be a lot easier than it has been.
“But if you take the current momentum around Britain returning to normality quite rapidly across our economy, if you project forward I feel there is a genuine chance we could have fans in stadiums at some level in late summer. That is certainly what I will be pushing for.”
Villa got the ball rolling on the top flight’s restart with a home match against Sheffield United.
Purslow continued: “There is no running away from the fact the biggest single difference fans and players are going to get used to is empty stadia and watching football only on TV
“I make no apology for the fact I think it is really sad and I hope we can find a way to get some fans back into stadiums as soon as possible.
“I’m old fashioned. For me professional football is about players earning their money in front of people who have paid to watch them because they have earned that right.
“Football without the paying public in stadiums is not what the sport is about in any way, shape or form. It is the same for everybody and I think the players will adapt and adjust.
“But every single one of them wants fans back as soon as possible.”
