Rovers call for Cliftonhill fan return

An Albion Rovers chief reckons the lower leagues could be financially‘up s*** creek’if fans are not allowed back when the season kicks off.

The first Old Firm derby of the campaign will take place on Saturday, October 17 - the same date that the Championship, League One and League Two are to begin.

The SPFL fixture list gives Rangers and Celtic fans as much time as possible for the Scottish Government to green light crowds for the blockbuster clash.

However, Rovers director Colin Woodward insists it is even more crucial for the punters to be able to turn out for the lower leagues’opening weekend.

The Cliftonhill supremo believes that games without fans and the match day hospitality could be financially devastating for the Coatbridge outfit.

“The big thing for us coming back is getting fans through the gates,” Woodward said.

“We hope that, if we are left without fans come October it won’t be for too long, and we feel like we could quite easily get fans to distance in our ground.

“If football goes on for months without fans we would be up s*** creek.

“We have heard absolutely nothing from the SPFL or the SFA about how it will work without fans, but at the end of the day they will be waiting for the Scottish Government.

“If you can go inside pubs we would hope that we can sort something out with hospitality in the stadium.

“It is heartening for us that pubs are open again and if there is no second wave hopefully we will follow that.

“We are on a totally different scale from the Old Firm and the Premiership sides. We have a capacity of 1500 and our average attendance last season was 301.

“Even if we had a reduced capacity it would allow us to survive. Even without fans the big guys will be fine; Rangers and Celtic can sell subscriptions to their TV channels to stream, or have other income streams.

“Our lifeblood is totally fan supported, and we feel confident that we could have a socially distanced stadium with around 500 fans.”

Woodward added that the club have been in discussions about streaming their fixtures if the stands are empty for the reduced 27-game season.

He added:“It’s something we are talking about; getting four cameras set up in the stadium.

“The company we are talking to are also speaking to other league clubs about it.

“At the end of the day we’re happy to have a date to work towards.”