Football Victoria (FV) CEO Peter Filopoulos told FTBL on Tuesday Victorian football was planning for a resumption of competition towards the end of June or early July, with a return to training mooted as soon as the Victorian governing body could distribute Return to Training guidelines.  

But approaching FBTL in the wake of that article, senior figures at several NPL clubs expressed concerns over the integrity of a season staged with the modifications that COVID-19 would demand, as well as the costs associated with staging games and maintaining club operations without the income associated with live crowds.

It is understood that up to nine of the clubs in the 14-team Victorian top-tier believe the men’s senior 2020 season should be cancelled, although there remains a commitment to staging junior competitions and an openness to a women’s senior competition.

Regardless of what happens with the resumption of senior NPL football, though, sources have told FTBL that community competitions from State League One and below are set for an early July re-start. 

Association of Australian Football Clubs Chairman Nick Galatas says its Victorian clubs consider a senior men’s competition in 2020 is not sustainable under current arrangements.  

A collective body of National Premier League clubs around Australia, the AAFC has been representing clubs in negotiations over football’s resumption with member federations and the FFA and is set to meet with Football Victoria in the coming days.

"COVID-19 has been a challenging time for everyone in the footballing community,” Galatas told FTBL. “Throughout it, the AAFC has been actively representing our members' interests in working with member federations and the FFA to help plan for football's eventual return.

“The situation has unfortunately been incredibly difficult and uncertain for our members in Victoria, and we'll be meeting with FV in the coming days to help figure out a plan moving forward. 

“Our clubs are committed to working together to develop a strategy that will allow juniors to get back on the park and continue to play the game they love as soon as it's safe to do so.

"Before that occurs, though, we'll need to focus on a number of important issues for our clubs such as ground availability, how games and training can comply with social distancing and the ability of our junior players that play multiple sports or have study commitments later in the year to play a season that extends beyond its normal length.

“But, as I said, everyone is committed to doing all they can to ensure that we can deliver a 2020 season to our junior players.

“Senior men's football is a little more complicated. Clubs rely on matchday revenue and gate takings to survive and though the situation remains very fluid, it's looking increasingly unlikely that we'll be able to stage games with fans in attendance in the near future.

"Our clubs receive amazing support from volunteers, but still have operational costs that have to be met to keep the lights on and players on the pitch and we have to be careful not to ask too much of our volunteers during this risky and uncertain time.

"Many are in the older more at risk age bracket. 

“Furthermore, with the nature of COVID-19 so uncertain, it's impossible to know if a potential second wave could force everyone to once again shut everything down. 

“At this time, it's the united position of our members that the resumption and conclusion of the 2020 senior men's NPL competition isn't financially viable.

"To take place, it will at least need some level of assistance from FV or the FFA, including measures which will alleviate the financial and compliance burden on our clubs. While it's in the DNA of our clubs to get out on the pitch, their feeling at the moment is it's looking too difficult this year.

“But the situation remains very fluid and we're looking forward to working with FV and FFA to see the plans and possible scenarios which might be available and then decide how we proceed from here to reach an outcome that works for everyone. 

“We're not sure what the plans are for senior women's football in 2020, but once we find out from FV what they are we'll work with our clubs to determine their views and those of their players on staging a season.

"If our players are keen, we'll work with FV to ensure that a season can be staged."

The senior men’s NPL Victoria season had played five games prior to its suspension in March and would need to complete another 26 rounds to complete a full regular season. Senior men’s NPL2 and NPL3 and senior women’s NPL competitions had been set to begin their campaigns the week of grassroots and NPL football’s suspension.

"We're meeting with our clubs tonight," Filopoulos told FBTL."And we're looking forward to hearing their points of view.

"We're pleased, also, with the government announcement around the Experience Economy Survival Package, and there's a $40m fund for community sport and recreational bodies, which includes Football Victoria and our leagues and clubs. 

"There's also an opportunity for a further $16m to go to national sporting organisations which could capture professional sports such as the A-League and NPL."

The Experience Economy Survival Package was announced on Tuesday – a $150m package designed to prop up the state’s sporting and cultural sectors - $40m of which will go to community sporting associations, leagues and clubs.

“Football at every level has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic, with the suspension of football activity having severe implications on the financial health of the game," FFA CEO James Johnson said in a statement.

"As a sport of nearly two million participants and over 2,300 community clubs across the country, football has felt the impact of COVID-19 more than most sports, particularly in states like Victoria where we have some of our largest numbers of participation

“This Survival Package will assist our community, semi-professional and professional clubs, and administrative bodies, during this difficult period. It will help ensure football can come out of the pandemic in a strong position and able to play a leading role in the recovery of Victoria.

“FFA commends Daniel Andrews’ Government for taking the lead in supporting sporting institutions, and we look forward to the return of community football training and competition in Victoria as soon as is possible.

“Football is going to play a key role in the recovery of Australian society and we remain focused on being a key partner for all levels of government in this respect.”

Filopoulos also welcomed the announcement: “This package is absolutely critical to ensure that our sporting clubs and institutions have a fighting chance of getting through what has been an incredibly tough period.

“In football, the effects of shutting down our game for several months are very significant.

“What we do know is that it will take an enormous, community-wide effort to get our clubs, leagues and associations restarted and this package will play a significant role in making sure that happens.”