CHAIRMAN Gavin Foxall says Newport County AFC's board have prepared for a worst-case scenario to ensure that the Exiles can survive the coronavirus pandemic.

County's League Two season was suspended in March and was officially called off last week with the club having 10 games left to play.

They finished 14th in the table and while four clubs prepare for the play-offs, the Exiles are plotting for 2020/21 and what is certain to be a testing campaign.

County released a comprehensive Q&A for supporters on Friday in which they stated that they believe the season won't start until October and that games will be behind closed doors until 2021.

Other clubs have intimated that action could resume in September and it has been suggested in other quarters that smaller, socially-distanced crowds could be allowed into grounds.

But the Exiles board – who have stated income could be hit by 40 per cent – are preparing for the worst to ensure that they will not be one of the clubs that don't come back for 2021/22.

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"We are in quite extraordinary times and as a football club we rely on commercial revenue, season tickets and people being able to watch home games," said Foxall.

"That is going to be very difficult in the pandemic – we don't believe the season will start before October and we don't think that we will see crowds in before January.

"They are working assumptions and they may well change, if they do then we will adjust accordingly, but we need to plan.

"That affects the revenue streams to the tune of about 40 per cent and it doesn't matter what business or how successful you are, to sustain that over a period of time is extremely difficult.

"Our job as a board is to navigate the club through these uncharted waters so that it is able to come through and prosper in the future.

"That means that we have to make some quite tough and difficult decisions. We've got a plan and now we've got to execute it."

County have already undertaken a review of the club’s spending and identified a number of areas where they can make savings.

They have applied for financial support from government schemes and deferred PAYE/VAT payments.

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The Exiles are in a better position than many clubs thanks to recent giant-killing cup heroics by Michael Flynn and his squad.

"We've been fortunate with the cup revenue that we have had in the last few years," admitted Foxall.

"As a board we have been very prudent in the way that we have managed that money.

"That will contribute significantly in helping get through these difficult times because I've no doubts in my mind that there will be clubs who find it very difficult to come through this.

"It's inevitable that there will be casualties along the way, which will be very sad."