Barnet Put All Non-Playing Staff on Notice of Redundancy as Coronavirus Begins to Bite

National League side Barnet have officially confirmed that they have put all of their non-playing staff on notice in an attempt to ‘preserve the club’, as a result of the coronavirus. 

?Barnet are sat in 11th place in England’s fifth tier, four points off a playoff spot. However, with the coronavirus continuing to spread, the National League recently took the decision to suspend all matches until at least 3rd April.

There has been plenty of talk about how lower league clubs would be impacted by the decision to suspend football due to the virus, and Barnet have now taken drastic action. 

The club have taken to their ?official website to explain that they have placed all of their non-playing staff on notice as they look to take ’emergency measures to preserve the club’. As for head coach Darren Currie, he has a ‘long notice period’ within his contract – meaning that if the season were to resume, he will remain in charge until at least the end of the campaign. 

The statement read: “We are in unprecedented times and as such, certain decisions have been made across the football group to ensure the longevity of Barnet Football Club. Over the past few days, we have taken emergency measures to preserve the Club and ensure it remains sustainable.

“Since relegation, we have seen a general drop in crowd attendances of 50%, whilst general costs have increased resulting in operational losses of approximately £100,000 per month. The Club budgeted for this cost in the hope of promotion but of course, at the end of April, all of our parachute funding will cease and we need to therefore make savings accordingly.

“In addition to these challenges, we have to consider the greater challenge of the impact that COVID-19 will have in the immediate and long-term future. In order to meet the challenges ahead of us, we will have to dismantle our existing cost structure and look to rebuild for next season with a much leaner cost base.

“We have therefore taken the difficult decision to put all Barnet FC staff on notice. This is to include all first team coaching and backroom staff, the Barnet FC Academy and many of the operational staff across all areas of the Club.

“Supporters will understandably want to know how this situation affects our Head Coach, Darren Currie. Darren has a long notice period within his contract and as such, should the season resume, he will remain in charge until at least the end of the season and possibly beyond.”

Club Chairman Tony Kleanthous further explained that the decision had to be made in order to preserve the football club, while he also described the knock-on effects as ‘heartbreaking’. He said: “Our greatest concern is that within the UK and across the entire world, people are losing loved ones. 

“Our sympathies and thoughts go out to everyone affected but right now, I have to focus my attention closer to home and look at the impact it’s having on our Club. It is my responsibility to ensure Barnet FC continues to survive and remains financially stable and therefore, I have had to make difficult decisions.

“I have to be open and honest with the staff and it’s been a difficult past few days having to deliver the bad news but it’s something that had to be done.”

Let’