OXFORD City have been forced to lay off all their non-football staff after the club’s revenue streams disappeared.

The seven full-time and eight part-time workers were involved in running the pitch hire facilities, bar and cafe at Court Place Farm.

That side of the business provides three-quarters of City’s income, but restrictions put in place to tackle the coronavirus crisis have forced the site to close.

“Obviously it has to happen, safety is the most important thing,” Paul Lyon, City’s finance director, said.

“But it’s people’s livelihoods and our staff have bills to pay.”

City will pay those affected for the rest of March, while it is expected the government commitment to cover up to 80 per cent of wages will ease the blow on the full-time workers.

It comes as the club have also been hit by the news commercial director Mick Livesey has been hospitalised.

After becoming unwell during a trip to Germany, he is now being monitored at Northampton General Hospital, although it has not been confirmed he is suffering from coronavirus.

Lyon said: “It puts things into perspective.

“I would rather see Mick back working at the club in a couple of months’ time than worry about anything to do with the football season.”

City are hoping that meetings with the leagues this week prompt some form of financial relief to help weather the storm.

It has been estimated the 68 clubs in the three Vanarama National League divisions are facing a £15million loss of cashflow.

Lyon believes 30 per cent of those sides are at risk of going under.

While City are worried, they are not in imminent danger thanks to the financial prudence shown in recent seasons.

Lyon has been working on bringing down a £1.5m debt, which now stands at about £500,000 and is mainly owed to directors, rather than banks.

He said: “Three years ago we were on the verge of going out of business and we have made great inroads into that.

“We always said we wouldn’t put the club in a risky position, although we couldn’t foresee a disaster like this.

“We haven’t gambled in an attempt to gain promotion.

“We have just tried to keep the club going and stay where we are.

“We have come such a long way and then something beyond anyone’s control comes along we can’t do anything about.

“It’s a shame because Oxford City have lost every penny of income overnight.”

He added: “The most important thing is everyone stays safe, but we do need the government to help clubs keep going.

“Otherwise when things get back to normal there might not be as many clubs left.”