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tv   Sportsday  BBC News  September 24, 2020 6:30pm-6:45pm BST

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in the autumn, spring or even in the summer. autumn, spring or even in the summer. but certainly the last 48 hours, we have seen a dramatic change in the weather and temperatures in the 20s to something like 10 degrees lower. this is an autumnal atmosphere across the atlantic. we really have changed gear. the cold air is streaming in from the north, it is a cold plunge ofairfrom from the north, it is a cold plunge of airfrom the from the north, it is a cold plunge of air from the arctic that has reached us and it is here to stay for a little while. very chilly out there. this morning in northern scotla nd there. this morning in northern scotland it was minus five celsius. the coldest september night in over two decades, such is the extent of the cold air over us. it is single figures. the weather on friday is going to be a tale of two halves. across the eastern half of the country, it is a very strong wind and close to the north sea coast, 50 to 60 mph gales with frequent
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showers. anywhere from the aberdeenshire coastline towards the south—east it is going to be blowing hard, with frequent showers in east anglia. it should be strong in the west, but in belfast, cardiff and plymouth it will not feel bad because they will be some sunshine around. but some of the coastal areas, it is quite raw. the weekend isn't looking too bad for some. the winds will die down and there will be sunshine around but the indications are, next week will turn very, very autumnal once again. so that's it, big change to our season. a reminder of our top story... the chancellor has set out plans to protect jobs over the the chancellor has set out plans to protectjobs over the next six months. the government will top up the pay of workers who have been forced to cut their hours and the
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deadline for repaying government loa ns deadline for repaying government loans has been extended. that's all from the bbc news at six, so it's goodbye from me and on bbc one, we nowjoin the bbc‘s news teams where you are. hello i'm 0lly foster, here's what's coming up on sportsday toinght. .. to play or not to play, that's the dilemma facing the top non—league sides ahead of a season without supporters. the man behind the mask, will this hollywood actor be wrexham's superhero. the most unlikely football takeover story coming up and there's a terrible crash for the reigning time trial champion on the first day of the road world championships also coming up in the programme... it's not just football feeling the squeeze without supporters.
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we rely on spectators, game day income, and without that, these leagues will not be able to deliver a programme. good evening. the premier league has been up and running for a couple of weeks, so too the football league. the scottish premiership is in full swing — all without fans, of course, but they are getting by. next weekend, the national league is due to start. that's one step down from the football league and the majority of clubs there say they can't survive without supporters. in the last hour, the national league board says all their member need a financial rescue package from the government to help them make ends meet. joe lynskey reports. we need to rescue package. we need
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the government to step in. it's hard when you see people that you spend so when you see people that you spend so much time with, it's feeling like it's disappearing. if you take away the football club, that's weekends gonna stop you will give us some support so that these clubs are still here, so that we are still here. it's english football's difficult balancing act, where non—league clubs need fans through the doors, how to keep them going through a pandemic. cheering for national league season was due to start next weekend, the same date football had hoped to bring some fa ns football had hoped to bring some fans back. but new restrictions mean the crowds are now on hold, and few of these clubs can afford empty grounds. more than three quarters of the national league north now say they cannot start the season. without financial support, the lights could go out. it's far whiter than just playing football. it's essential that we get this money coming through. the national league as a whole needs around 3 million a month. there is
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over 3000 people employed in the national league. there'sjobs over 3000 people employed in the national league. there's jobs at sta ke. the chancellor to make it 1—1. it's pa rt of the chancellor to make it 1—1. it's part of smith one! a spark around maybe trying to stream some of the games and get some revenue in that way, but the fans back in the ground is the lifeblood for football clubs at our level and i don't see how we can start without having the fans backin can start without having the fans back in and getting that revenue into the football club. national league clubs are in a delicate position, this is the fifth and sixth tier of english football. that's considered elite sports where crowds aren't permitted. the 90 leads crowds aren't permitted. the 90 lea ds clu bs crowds aren't permitted. the 90 leads clubs further down the football pyramid currently can let fa ns football pyramid currently can let fans income and at this level, relatively small amounts of money can cause clubs to go under. macclesfield will wind up in the high court for unpaid debts of half £1 million. that's less then the reported weekly wage of gareth bayle who just arrived in the premier
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league. selfish football's top—flight be doing more to help? it's rare when we talk about insta nces it's rare when we talk about instances of hand—outs in the league come in the print really, it needs two thirds majority. so 14 clubs. the national league here, if they are saying collectively 15— £20 million could potentially get us through this crisis, that's looking at figures in the primarily, and its relatively small in comparison, so i think there's definitely the potential there to do something like this. some clubs want to start the season come this. some clubs want to start the season come what may come a online could cover some of the losses. at every clu b could cover some of the losses. at every club at this level is built on community and without them there, it won't be the same. joe lynskey, bbc news. let's get more on this, from our seniorfootball reporter ian dennis. ian , we've had this statement from the national league that represebnts 67 clubs across the fifth and sixth tier and they say that a funding package is imperative the livelihood
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—— they think the government needs to step in there with this funding package to save them. absolutely come in they think 48 hours ago, i would've said that a delay to the season was likely. the situation now feels just that little bit more hopeful, only because for a 67 clubs in the national league in the national league north and south that they have this hope that there will be just financial support package from the government. i think as well not just from a from the government. i think as well notjust from a leak point of view, but the national league is due to start on saturday, there would've been repercussions for the fa cup, bearing in mind that 43 clubs from national league north and south are due to take part in the fa cup second qualifying round. the draw is tomorrow, so this would've had a potential knock on effect for the fa cup. this is where it gets complicated, the association will be having a strong interest in this as well. the lower down you go on the pyramid, the more important these clu bs a re pyramid, the more important these clubs are to the community, that's got to hold some kind of sway as
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well when it comes to keeping them going as businesses. yeah. i think the irony is that national league north and national league south back in may when they wanted to compete —— complete the playoffs push for elite status. the thing is, in those two leagues, they are more aligned to steps three and below, and the national league itself is actually more aligned to the football league. 81% of clubs today in national league north voted to actually not start the season without crowds, but this is why the support from the government and with the help of the national league border actively speaking to government and the fa, thatis speaking to government and the fa, that is critical, absolutely essential to try and ensure that so many of these clubs do survive, and the communities as well, because this is really a worrying and bleak time for everybody concerned. yes, the livelihoods of hundreds if not thousands of players and staff is at sta ke, thousands of players and staff is at stake, but the clock is ticking. we are only nine days away and some of
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those clubs will wind some guarantees before they get going. yes, they will. i think some of them in terms of the restart will be fortu nate in terms of the restart will be fortunate that they received some funding from the premier league. it's called the match day supports fund. it was about £20,000 for national league clubs and 50,000 pounds for those in national league north and south, that was to get signage and to get the clubs in a position to restart. it wasn't geared up towards playing or paying the players, and this is the problem they are going to face, so many of these clubs, once they pay their first competitive match, you trigger the player's contracts, bearing in mind that so many of the clubs were on furlough earlier on in the year, once they do start regardless of the competition, it is a competitive match, those contracts then kick in, and that's where the problem starts. it needs to be resolved before it is kicked in anger. still massively uncertain. many thanks indeed. let's stay with the national league,
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and what could be the most unikely of take—overs. a relatively low—budget hollywood blockbuster, the deadpool star ryan reynolds is eyeing up a possible investment in wrexham. the club has been owned by the fans for the past nine years, but in the next few weeks reynolds and the american actor —— for financial support. -- for financial support. it's a huge step in the right direction, i think what's crucial here that government seem think what's crucial here that government seem to recognise the need for financial support, clubs at this level, there is a number of clu bs this level, there is a number of clubs throughout the league that are generally on the edge of facing financial ruin. the inability, welcome of the u—turn made by the governments were two weeks to go of the season would work towards welcoming fans back into the stadium was obviously last—minute clubs would not be able to survive without those revenues brought in. how hard will it be assuming the season goes ahead to survive financially without any gates revenue? i guess that comes down to the government. think it's a mixture between the funding
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package that's on offer, but also the potential streaming revenues. 0bviously, the potential streaming revenues. obviously, there is a lot of other revenue options and potential that we connect to bring in as well, i think a lot of clubs will be able to replace some of that potential match day revenue through alternative means in—line with the actual funding package. ithink means in—line with the actual funding package. i think they shouldn't be too far off of where they would've been previously. what do you expect from governmentwill be alone or more likelyjust a donation to recognise the fact that so much of the sport sector has been placed ina very of the sport sector has been placed in a very difficult position? i'm not sure if the loan will work, because were basically pushing the problem out into the future. a lot of these clubs at this level operate hand to mouth, and a lot of these clu bs were hand to mouth, and a lot of these clubs were unable to actually repay this back in the future. how about this back in the future. how about this for a positive national league story, what could be the most unlikely of takeovers, relatively low budgets hollywood blockbuster. who's that? that's red —— ryan reynolds.
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but could ryan reynolds to be about to swap the bright lights of hollywood for the floodlights of north wales? this is a non—league wrexham. in the next few weeks, reynolds and the american actor, rock mcelheny, are going to outline their vision for the welsh side as prospective new owners. here is our for the welsh side as prospective new owners. here is our sports correspondent, anti—swiss. as some of the world's biggest movie stars, he's no stranger to unlikely stories. it could ryan reynolds be about to swap the bright lights of hollywood for the floodlights of north wales? this is nine league wrexham, football club run by its supporters who have not revealed they are in £2 million takeover talks with ryan reynolds and another hollywood actor, rob mcelhenney, as plotlines go, it takes some believing. of course, for us, receiving contact from hollywood a—list stars, of course it's a surreal experience. but, i have had several conversations with both rob and ryan
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and they seem very down—to—earth, serious and confident people with lots of energy, so hopefully, we will hear more from them. for a club which almost went out of business in 2004, it's a remarkable development. fans are now set to hear ryan reynolds's plans at a special meeting, but he confirmed his interest on twitter. back in 2012, two fans had joked about him coming to wrexham. last night, he replied, yep. you never know. so, what would it mean for one of those fans to actually meet him? i would probablyjust stand there in silence, i'm a huge fan. i wouldn't know what to say, to be honest. it'sjust such an incredible story. you read about these things going viral all the time, being inundated with notifications, it'sjust been... yeah, the last 24 hours have been crazy. we have already seen russell crowe by an australian rugby team and will ferrell a us football club. but ryan reynolds and wrexham? the club is a box office moment was then beating
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arsenal in the 1992 fa cup. but what happens now could be a real blockbuster. andy swiss, bbc news. here's some other football lines foryou and... the scottish champion, celtic, they kicked off in latvia. its goal is there. they are all in action later this evening. that match has been called off on saturday, postponement of the league cup tie against totte n ha m of the league cup tie against tottenham on tuesday night. it's understood the club returned 17 positive coronavirus cases. eduard mendy‘s transfer to chelsea has been confirmed. the goalkeeper has joined from french side rennes on a five year dealfor a fee rising to 20 million pounds. ac milan forward zlatan ibrahimovic has tested positive for coronavirus. ibrahimovic is the second player at the club to test positive this week, but he has tweeted...
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the road cycling world championships are under way in italy. racing was supposed to take place in switzerland but because of the pandemic, the event has been moved to imola. the netherlands anna van der breggen took gold. former commonwealth champion rochelle gilmour is commentating for the bbc. i spoke to her about today's action inclduing a horrible crash for the american favourite and reigning champion chloe dygert. welcome it was terrifying. i lost all of sense of what this actually means. she wanted to in that world championship this year so much, i spoke in—depth last night and this morning with her coach about how ha rd morning with her coach about how hard she's worked for it, and she's on form. it was her main target for the year, obviously, she hadn't raised since the world championships on the road last year. so, what it actually meant to her to lose the opportunity to win that world
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championship, and just a

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