THE staggering financial cost on grassroots football in Wales has been laid bare.

According to a study carried out by the Football Association of Wales Trust (FAWT), each grassroots club in Wales has lost an average of £7,000 since March.

These losses have been incurred by a loss of matchday and club sponsorship, the cancellation of events and ongoing delays to the start of the season for all but 16 clubs in Wales.

The survey was completed by more than 500 clubs and paints a grim picture of the future of Welsh football.

A loss of sponsorship has accounted for the majority of losses with more than 80 per cent of clubs reporting their coffers had been decimated since March while more than half of the respondents confirmed volunteers had quit their clubs since lockdown.

Worryingly, many clubs have warned their only hope of salvaging their losses would be a membership price increase should they survive this season.

However 74 per cent of junior clubs plan new activities to compensate for the loss of a season when the FAW and Welsh Government permit grassroots football to return.

The survey results state 97 per cent of Welsh clubs have been affected financially with an average loss of £7k per club with the worst hit sections the senior side and age grade sides at under 14 and under 16 level.