The EFL is set to meet this week in a bid to find ways to get through the coronavirus crisis.

While Carlisle United continue in the early stages of adjusting to a prolonged spell without football, they and their fellow clubs are facing a crucial period of decisions.

Most eyes in football will be on a UEFA crisis summit meeting tomorrow, but an EFL board meeting is also expected to take place this week with many clubs fearing the financial implications of the game being suspended.

Initially all matches are off until April 3 but there is deep scepticism within the game about the prospect of action getting back under way then, rather than much later in the year.

That could have grave consequences for many clubs lower down the league, with many heavily reliant on ticket and related commercial income.

Carlisle have yet to comment on the financial ramifications of the suspension specifically at Brunton Park, with chief executive Nigel Clibbens saying it depends on how long games are shelved for.

The director said United would update fans as much as possible. “We have a duty to do that,” he said.

“We are in unknown territory and things will continue to move quite fast.

“It may well be that the advice one day changes the next.”

Many clubs anticipate losing hundreds of thousands in revenue and the League are said to be drawing up contingency plans.

There have been calls for the wealthy Premier League to help clubs lower down the pyramid.

Some club chiefs say loans will be needed to help them get through the challenging period ahead.

Clibbens said it was the right decision to call games off and this view was echoed by other club supremos.

Peterborough owner Darragh MacAnthony told talkSPORT: “It’s the right call by the EFL and let’s reconvene in three weeks’ time or so but there will definitely be cause for concern.

“The average League One and Two club is going to need a loan of £3-400k each. We’re losing two games in the next three weeks which will affect our cash flow.

“There will shortfall and cash flow issues for many clubs. There’s definitely enough money in football so that loans could be made and paid back in two or three years and we have to make plans to make sure that nobody goes under because of this virus.”

In the immediate term United have seen three away and one home game suspended.

The home game is the Leyton Orient fixture scheduled for this Saturday, which had been the subject of a major #GoodVibrations ticket initiative.

Activity around that promotion has been suspended, while United spent the weekend weighing up how to proceed operationally.

That is likely to see the ticket office closed and reduced hours in the club shop. While staff have been advised to work from home where possible, it is not clear yet what plans are being made for players in terms of training.

United have not yet moved to cancel scheduled events next month such as the Community Sports Trust awards night on April 24 and the end-of-season dinner two days later.

The club will assess whether those functions can go ahead as the situation develops. Fans’ trust CUOSC say the CUOSC Cup - a six-a-side tournament at Brunton Park that weekend - is still on "as things stand".

The UEFA summit tomorrow will be done by a video conference with all 55 member associations taking part, with the possibility of Euro 2020 being put back a year.

The fate of domestic leagues and European competitions such as the Champions League will be discussed.

Locally, the Cumberland FA have announced their HQ will be closed today but staff will be working from home and can be contacted by email or phone.

Among the many games postponed due to the Covid-19 outbreak was yesterday’s fixture between Carlisle City Deaf FC and Birmingham. A statement said: “We believe putting our players and rest of the committee’s health and safety first. Sorry for any inconvenience.”