Chairman fears season over and game will be halted until January

Raith Rovers chairman Bill Clark believes there is no chance that the current campaign will be played to a finish – and fears football could be written off until January.

After watching the likes of the Olympics, Wimbledon and, closer to home, the Edinburgh festivals being postponed or cancelled, Clark has already waved goodbye to the prospect of the remaining eight League 1 fixtures being completed.

Clark is still keeping his fingers crossed that his side’s efforts in leading the division by one point over Falkirk will be recognised but fears the extent of the coronavirus pandemic could leave football in hibernation for another nine months.

Clark, who has introduced a government funding scheme at Stark’s Park for nearly all their employees, said: “When you look at what’s being cancelled now, the Edinburgh Festival in August, I think playing the remaining eight games of our league is just not viable either, that is not going to happen.

“I am personally writing those games off, I can’t see how they can happen when you look at when the peak of this is going to come.

“There are all sorts of sporting things already being called off in August.

“The players are going to need a pre-season of some kind so you’re talking about starting in October or November.

“I think we’d be best just to say that the season has gone and start the 20-21 season whenever we’re able to get back to football.

“Whether that’s November, or January even – which could be possible – and look to play a reduced number of games in the league for 20-21.

“That to me would see the most sensible thing. Nobody can predict timescales on this.”

Rovers chairman Bill Clark.