Leigh Pomlett: Walsall needs unity to pull through coronavirus pandemic

After the government announced that fans will no longer be allowed back in stadiums from October 1, clubs across the nation are reeling at the task of staying afloat without supporter income.

Although Pomlett recognises the magnitude of the task, he is determined that the club can survive if everyone pulls together.

"The announcement that the government made earlier this week made a it a difficult situation, which all football clubs are in," he said.

"I do not want to underplay that it was a serious announcement and has ramifications across the whole of the football world.

"We've been working on plans to make sure we ride out the storm over the next six months. We will be making a lot of management actions in terms of cost reductions at the football stadium.

"We'll be taking actions that I never anticipated every doing, frankly, but we'll have to do them to make sure that we preserve the football club.

"I cannot, on my own, preserve football in the town but together we most certainly can.

"I'm going to need the help of as many stakeholders as I can possibly get to make sure we ride out probably the most difficult storm, I would argue, in the history of Walsall Football Club.

"It is tough. A serious situation but I still believe it's a manageable one.

"I will not be the chairman that sees the demise of Walsall Football Club, I will do whatever it takes and all I want is help to do so."

Next week, the club will announce a compensation package for season ticket holders.

However, Pomlett has urged fans that can afford to do so, not to take it up.

"I have to recognise that people bought tickets for something that they cannot watch live and the prospect of doing so is a way off yet," he added.

"Our fans bought tickets in good faith they they'd be watching Walsall at the stadium. That is not going to happen in the short term.

"We'll be announcing a compensation package for the fans next week.

"I am hoping, being brutally frank with you, that you will not take advantage of that compensation package.

"I want you to leave the money in the club if you possibly can to help us ride through this storm.

"But I understand the reality of the situation, you've bought a ticket for something that you cannot watch live. I want you to take advantage of iFollow because that's important."

Meanwhile, Pomlett has urged fans to get creative with their money-making ideas to help support the club.

"The supporter groups have been great and they've come to me with ideas and my advice to you is go ahead and do it," he said.

"Whatever you can do to help us through this crisis, go ahead and do it.

"We're in touch with the government and EFL to help us through this process and I expect some help to come our way.

"But we have to plan on the basis that we're in this on our own and we will battle through it."

Walsall Supporters for Change chairman Rob Harvey has already set up a Just Giving page to help support the club.

It can be viewed by visiting: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/WalsallFCCovid19.