(Title Image: via the-citizens-choice-co.uk)
Plaid Cymru has called for the Welsh Government to provide financial assistance to sports governing bodies after hearing testimony which suggests some clubs may be on the brink of going out of business due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Focusing on football specifically, while the Cymru Premier League and Welsh clubs playing in the English pyramid have resumed competitive games, domestic competitions below the Cymru Premier have been blocked from restarting by the Welsh Government.
Rhun ap Iorwerth MS (Plaid, Ynys Môn) said: “A local sports team is more than the sport itself – it’s about bringing communities together, the health benefits and of course, feeding talent through to higher tiers. Without clubs progressing at the grassroots level, ultimately the national game will suffer.”
No concrete figures have been provided indicating how much financial support is required, but the manager of Holyhead Hotspur FC said: “I’m very worried about the toll not playing competitively is taking on everyone in our sporting community. I don’t think the Welsh Government realises how serious this situation is. They need to act to resolve it and do so quickly.”
