SHUTDOWN CASH BOOST
Stirling Albion are playing a waiting game as Scottish football continues to discuss the next steps with all matches suspended until further notice due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Binos were due to play Queen’s Park at Hampden tomorrow but they, and the rest of the SPFL clubs, are likely to be idle for the foreseeable future.
No decision has yet been taken by the football authorities as to whether this season can be completed in due course or whether the current positions will become final.
Albion are sixth in Ladbrokes League 2 and still in contention for a play-off place but their topfour ambitions were badly hit by defeats to Elgin City and Cove Rangers before the shutdown.
The club have posted financial losses in the last two seasons but do have money in the bank and on Wednesday the Scottish FA Board approved advance payments to members from Club Licensing and Club Academy Scotland award payments.
These would usually be payable towards the end of the year but will instead be distributed this week to help mitigate the financial impact of coronavirus and the suspension of fixtures.
Scottish FA President Rod Petrie said: “I am pleased to announce the immediate cash payments to members of Club Licensing and Club Academy Scotland amounts which were budgeted to be paid later this year.
“Given the financial uncertainty faced by clubs, we have looked at areas of distribution where we can accelerate and pay now, rather than wait to pay on the usual distribution dates.
“The combined amount forward funded in this way is approximately £1.5m, which we believe will be of great support to clubs who face uncertainty and, worse still, a significant loss of revenue as a result of the impact of coronavirus in Scotland.”
Meanwhile, Stirling Albion’s 7-1 hammering by League 2 leaders Cove Rangers in their last outing on Tuesday, March 10, was their biggest defeat at home for more than 50 years.
The Binos had never conceded more than six goals at Forthbank but were 5-0 down by half-time and eventually shipped seven goals.
The thrashing by Paul Hartley’s men was the heaviest home loss since February 1968, when Raith Rovers won 7-0 at Annfield in what was Albion’s last-ever season in the top flight.
Stirling’s record defeat is 9-0, against Dundee United at Tannadice in December 1967 and matched in February 2010 against Ross County in the Scottish Cup.