The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Dodds urges clubs to end uncertainty
Former Aberdeen striker Billy Dodds has called on Scottish clubs to offer as much certainty as possible on their futures as the Dons were dealt an insurance blow yesterday.
Aberdeen had hoped to claim on their business interruption policy in the wake of the coronavirus crisis but have been told their protection against a loss of earnings due to a pendemic will cease at the end of next month.
The club issued a statement on the matter yesterday, just days after chairman Dave Cormack painted a bleak financial picture of a £5million financial hole during the football lockdown.
Dodds contrasted that message with Hearts after an email was circulated to agents suggesting the Edinburgh club could pay for new recruits in the summer, despite asking staff to accept 50% pay cuts.
Jambos owner Ann Budge moved to clarify matters yesterday saying there was no intention to pay transfer fees due to the current situation.
Dodds said: “Clubs have to look after themselves. You don’t want the message coming out like Hearts, where an email is going out saying they’ve got funds to bring in players.
“What comes out from the club has to be the truth. I’m not saying clubs are telling lies but the word unprecedented gets said a lot just now and clubs have to be truthful.
“The world is uncertain, sport is uncertain enough. The last thing they need is uncertainty from clubs.”
The Dons had hoped to claim on their insurance to cover certain losses as a result of the pandemic. However they were informed by their broker that wording in relation to the coronavirus outbreak will be removed upon renewal on April 30.
The SPFL released advance payments yesterday to SPFL clubs based on current league positions, with the Dons netting £157,500 plus VAT. The top three in the Premiership – Celtic, Rangers and Motherwell – received £395,000 plus VAT.
There is no resolution as yet what is to happen to Scottish football, with no games to be played before April 30. Any plan going forward has to be for the security of all clubs, added Dodds.
He said: “It’s got to save clubs. Wage cuts, communities doing something, government help, funding to keep them going, leagues handing out money early. Everyone has got to chip in.”