Hatters CEO would play games behind closed doors in order for a 'swift conclusion' to the season

Luton chief executive Gary Sweet admitted he would rather play games behind closed doors and take the financial blow rather than extend the season into June after the EFL cancelled fixtures until April 3 due to the coronavirus outbreak.

As it stands, the Hatters home match with Preston North End, plus trips to Swansea City and Leeds United will all need to be rearranged, after this morning's announcement.

Speaking to Talksport this morning, Sweet said: "Yesterday the Times leaked some information that games behind closed doors were being considered and I think that was subject to the government’s advice yesterday which was something that didn’t really go ahead.

“I personally and I think our club would be in favour of that.

"I think it would hit us hard financially, but I think to consider a longer suspension into the summer for example of Football League games is almost impossible when you start to consider transfer window could be open, players contracts might expire at the end of June.

"You cannot expect that the 10-14 weeks is completely accurate when you're dealing with virus that actually nobody really knows an awful lot about.

“A swift conclusion to the season would be my preference and our clubs preference in this particular case.

"As I think what that does is clears the decks and allows us to start planning for next season in the knowledge that we’ve got some time to get the virus under control, allow the summer to happen and I think we’ll be in much better position in that situation.

"Every club will have an absolutely huge dent it its cash flows during that period of time and a lot of clubs are suffering, however you look at it.

"We are going to be dealing with, along with a lot of other businesses I should say, dealing with financial difficulty.

"We are going to be dealing with a really difficult financial period over the coming months regardless of what the situation is.

"We do not have an option just to play games as usual, we don't have that now."