Saints chairman disappointed as Dons game is postponed

St Johnstone chief Steve Brown has urged Scotland’s footballers to “wake up and smell the coffee” after his side’s clash with Aberdeen was called off because of positive Covid-19 tests returned by two Dons stars.

The Saints chairman admitted he was frustrated that the televised lunchtime clash had been rescheduled to Thursday August 20, following further talks between the SPFL, the SFA and the Scottish Government.

Eight Pittodrie players were criticised by First

Minister Nicola Sturgeon yesterday for visiting a city centre bar – one of several pubs linked to a cluster of coronavirus cases – last Saturday after their side’s defeat to Rangers.

Brown, whose team’s furious fans insist Aberdeen should be ordered to forfeit the points, said: “Obviously it is disappointing but I don’t want to say too much because it could have happened to any club.

“There’s a very strict regime here, the same as every other Premiership club, with the testing and protocols we have to follow.

“That’s where the frustration gets in. Because we do all that but we can’t control players when they leave the football club. We are hoping the players take responsibility for their own actions.

“There’s an element of players, unfortunately at every club, so I’m not going to have a pop at Aberdeen. It could happen to any of us.

“I just hope and pray the players will take it on board and wake up and smell the coffee that we are in a pandemic and you have to act accordingly.

“We have been given special dispensation from the Scottish Government. We’ve got to respect that and let’s not throw it away.”