CITY of Liverpool FC have announced their new membership scheme for the 2020/21 season. The membership purchase and renewal window will remain open until the end of August, initiating a process which is at the very heart of how the club operates

The membership scheme is part of the club’s socialist community ethos which has seen them remain active throughout the Covid-19 pandemic despite having no football matches to play.

It is the idea at the core of the club’s existence and foundation that it should be owned by the community to which it gives back on a grander scale. The net is cast across the local area to those who may not know of the club until a volunteer turns up in their neighbourhood with a delivery of food parcels.

This method of ownership, and growing a club from the grassroots in this manner, has not only helped City of Liverpool survive during the coronavirus crisis but has also meant it is ideally situated and equipped to help others through these tough times.

Volunteers have mobilised in the region, delivering food and providing support where it is needed.

While clubs in the world’s top leagues are scrambling around to fulfil television deals so their private owners don’t miss out on their millions, City of Liverpool and other clubs like them are steadily going about a different kind of business. They are able to think about their communities rather than just looking to please TV companies and sponsors.

Many privately owned clubs will not come out on the other side of this crisis. Just this week, a Football League side less than 20 miles from Liverpool, Wigan Athletic, has gone into administration due to a failure of private ownership.

On June 4, Wigan were bought by the Hong Kong-based consortium Next Leader Fund. Less than a month later they went into administration. A new buyer is supposed to prevent this, not facilitate it, and questions have been raised around the timing of recent events.

"Every administration I have been involved in had its peculiarities," said joint administrator, Gerald Krasner. "But this is a first. Four weeks is a record that will stand for some time. We are aware of concerns that have been raised.”

It’s likely there will be more clubs joining Wigan in such a situation. The lack of football in recent months will be given as the reason, but clubs owned by capitalist private investors teeter on the edge of a financial precipice at the best of times, as shown in the recent cases of other north-west clubs, Bury and Bolton Wanderers.

Many clubs are already running on empty while also racking up a considerable tab at the gas station.

The EFL, having deemed the Next Leader Fund sound enough to pass an Owners’ and Directors’ Test, will now dish out a 12-point penalty to Wigan after the new owners failed the actual test of owning and running a football club. It raises questions of both the owner and the test.

But maybe more questions should be raised regarding the bigger picture of football-club ownership. Which clubs are best equipped to come through times of crisis on the other side?

This column regularly reports on clubs that are doing things differently to the detached, private0ownership model, and though these clubs are themselves not having an easy ride during this period, they are still riding.

This week City of Liverpool made their second statement signing of the summer. Having already announced the return to the club of striker Craig Cairns for next season, this week they added further firepower in the shape of experienced forward Tony Gray from Warrington Town.

Gray has played at National League level as well as in Europa League qualifying rounds for Welsh side Airbus UK.

“It's a pleasure to welcome Tony to our football club,” said Purps manager Craig Robinson.

“For us to attract a player like him to the club shows how far we have come, especially when you look at the clubs Tony has played for throughout his successful football career.

“He comes with a good goalscoring record, including last season, and will bring plenty of experience to the squad.”

The work off the pitch is important, and the work being done in preparation for the return to action is encouraging.

The membership scheme has itself taken a step forward this season, offering three extra packages on top of the standard annual membership that remains from last year. Extras on the full package include a season ticket and entry into Purps fundraising games each month.

It's a chance to get involved in a different type of football ownership at a club whose socialism is defined by its very existence and its actions in the community.

COLFC annual memberships can be purchased or renewed by visiting cityofliverpoolfc.co.uk/memberships.