Dons chief applauds shutdown

Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack said suspending Scottish football was the correct call.

The Dons were due to face Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership last night but the game was called off yesterday after all domestic football was suspended indefinitely.

SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster said the health and safety of fans, players and officials was paramount amid the coronavirus outbreak and felt it was “neither realistic nor possible” to continue.

Talking on the Northern Goal podcast, Cormack said: “My reaction to that is, it’s a sensible thing to do.

“The joint group of the SFA and SPFL are talking to the government and health authorities as well.

“It was inevitable, whether it was Monday or today.

“I just think we need to take a deep breath, take stock of the situation and hopefully this is a 36-day or 90-day thing where isolation helps to break the spread of the virus.

“We are obviously hugely disappointed that the Motherwell game was postponed but applaud the decision by the SFA and the SPFL.

“It is now up to the government to make their position clear on what is a continually and rapidly evolving situation.”

The Dons have taken several precautionary measures with the Aberdeen FC Community Trust, youth academy and AFC Women team’s activities suspended until next Sunday.

The club also cancelled player appearances and venue tours, while asking players to avoid interactions such as providing photographs or autographs.

Cormack added: “At this time it’s important to have calm heads and leadership.

“We’re in a fortunate position at Aberdeen where we’ve got no debt and cash in the bank.

“But we have to go through this.

“The only way to take the burden off of the healthcare system is to have people isolated.”