The EFL’s £50m relief package may only help clubs survive until the end the current suspension of play in April, according to a football finance academic.

The league announced a £50m package which includes the early release of award payments, and an interest-free loan facility to help clubs through the coronavirus lockdown, with no games scheduled to be played until at least April 30.

Championship clubs have received remaining £800,000 award payment from the Premier League and can will also be able to apply for a £584,000 interest-free loan.

However, Chris Winn, a finance academic at the University Campus of Football Business believes the short-term cash injection to help clubs during the current coronavirus crisis will only cover the coming weeks after analysing the latest available accounts of EFL Championship clubs as well as other historic EFL club data.

The Premier League and EFL have made their intention clear to finish the current season, with nine games of the Championship season remaining, with the previous season end of June 1 pushed back indefinitely.

Winn’s research suggests Championship clubs can expect to lose, on average, around £865,000 of match day revenue, based upon the postponement of four home fixtures.

In the same period Championship sides will spend on average around £7m in wages, according to the research.

Winn said: “The relief package from the EFL, though gratefully received by each club and much needed, is only going to last so long.

“If clubs’ outgoings continue to be the same and the suspension extends into May or games are played on a behind-closed-doors basis, then wider gaps in funding may develop. What this does highlight is the importance of continuing owner contributions in EFL clubs to the extent permitted, alongside the timing of broadcast and commercial cash inflows and the government wage support being made available to all businesses that require it.

“These figures however assume that other forms of income, including broadcast and other commercial streams, are not impacted over coming weeks. If the suspension of the season continues into late May or even June, will broadcasters or sponsors suspend or withhold payment and if so, how long can owners realistically and feasibly continue to contribute?”

“At what is a critical period for all businesses big and small, the measures provided by both the EFL and wider government will hopefully mean that by the time football returns, all our clubs are still operational.

“However, with EFL clubs historically being loss-making, and there being little sign of that changing, the present crisis may provide further evidence that this status quo, including the associated business models and revenue distribution mechanisms, needs to be addressed once business, and football, returns to normality.”