Rovers furloughed with season on hold

Albion Rovers have placed their players on furlough until they hear what happens next with the SFA’S lower league shutdown.

Secretary Colin Woodward says the Cliftonhill club are paying “100 per cent” of the players’ wages and players have been told to stay away from the club until the Joint Response Group reviews the situation at the end of this month. With leagues below the Championship on a shut-down until at least that time anyway, Woodward says it’s a common sense approach which safeguards players and the club.

Woodward, who says Rovers are staying in touch with everybody affected in the meantime, said: “Our players are on furlough but we’re making their wages up to 100 per cent at the moment.

“The players are being looked after. I’m in a training group chat and I put messages in now and again to let them know what’s happening.

“It’s just to keep in contact with them and to look after them as best we can at the moment, until it all gets reviewed.

“I think the review is still on for the end of January; although the main lockdown has been extended, I think the JRG are still going to go back and have a review with the Scottish Government at the end of January, as was the original plan.

“I’m in contact with the first-team players and the reserves, and other staff, like the physio, and it’s just chatting to folk, making sure everyone’s okay, letting people know that we’re still here and we know they’re still there as well. They’re all desperate to get back, and it is what it is, we’re all just doing our best to get through it, get to the other side and get playing football again, at some point.”

Rovers have not played since a shock Scottish Cup first round exit to Buckie Thistle on Boxing Day.

A blueprint for a safe return has been submitted to the Scottish FA by the 20 member clubs in League One and Two this week. It pledges to carry out regular testing – currently in operation in the unaffected top flight – with a view to restarting matches in March.

Out of action It looks like at least March before Rovers players return to the pitch