FC Halifax Town: "As a club we're confident the season will start," says Town boss Wild

The National League announced this evening (Thursday) that it was hopeful of securing a financial support package from the Government so it could begin the season on Saturday, October 3, with Town scheduled to host Dagenham and Redbridge at The Shay.

And Wild is optimistic that will be the case.

"Hopefully in the coming days we'll have an idea of what (the Government support package) is and until then we'll carry on as normal and work towards the season.

"Does it reassure me? As a club we're confident that the season will start but until it's absolutely nailed on, who knows."

Wild says starting the season would not be possible without some kind of financial aid.

"100 per cent. It's not as though this has happened at the start of pre-season, it's right at the end of pre-season.

"We've all committed to player contracts, we've all committed to bills. It's imperative now that we're allowed to get on with football.

"All support will be welcome but we've got to find a way to make it happen, not find a way to not make it happen."

When asked how much he thinks the National League would need in order to start the campaign, Wild said: "We just need sufficient funds to make sure every club gets through this season.

"If a club has enough money to get through to Christmas, it can be re-evaluated at Christmas.

"But the season's got to get going now. There's too much money been committed by too many clubs to too many people for it not to start now.

"Football, even at the fifth tier, is a massive part of the economy.

"It would be catastrophic if the season didn't start next Saturday for the football industry.

"Worst case scenario there could be hundreds of thousands of people out of work and clubs and the economy of football massively hit.

"So they have to support us, whether you're a football fan or not.

"There's a lot of people's lives at stake within the football industry and now more than ever we need support."

s absolutely nailed on, who knows."

The Shaymen travel to Curzon Ashton on Saturday in their penultimate pre-season friendly.