This is the view of the Riverside Olympic Soccer Club president who believes sports clubs should be given the same assistance as struggling businesses and has called upon summer sports to "share the pain".

Stuart McCarron said it was "scary" thinking about clubs' existence beyond the coronavirus crisis.

"Long-term we should be alright but in the NPL and Championship there are a lot of clubs not as financially stable," he said.

"I'm concerned that one of the options being considered if the season restarts is having no spectators. That would be disastrous for clubs because expenses would be the same with no income - no bar, canteen or gate. I cannot see how we could afford it.

"In the statewide presidents' meeting last week there were only two clubs who said they would go along with that. The rest are saying if we don't have spectators, we should not run it."

With major football, soccer, netball and hockey leagues contemplating either abbreviating or extending their winter seasons, McCarron urged summer sports like cricket to assist with scheduling and ground availability.

While most discussion in soccer circles has focused on the men's eight-team statewide NPL competition, McCarron said sports need to address a bigger picture and urged governments to evaluate the importance of community sport.

"The NPL is only one team out of 42 we put on the park every week. There's a lot to think about with the junior clubs.

"There are 2500 juniors playing in the NTJSA every Saturday. That's an important part of the fabric of our community. If clubs stop, that really affects society.

"It is a really important role that sporting clubs play in our community so it's imperative that they survive and thrive.

"Through no fault of their own, clubs that have been going 50-plus years have never been in this position before and it's really important that people look at sporting clubs the same as small businesses and support them."

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