Funding fears as cuts of £2m are set to bite deep

SCOTTISH sport has been warned to brace itself for deep and brutal cuts to its collective budget next year amid strong signs the Scottish Government will slash at least £2million from its spending on the sector in next month’s budget.

It is expected that the bulk of the impact will be felt at grassroots level as governing bodies — who remain heavily dependent on funding awarded via Sportscotland — lose out.

Athletics, for example, derived 56 per cent of its £1m income last year from grants.

That could force cutbacks on development initiatives, with the predicted drop in cash arriving barely six months after a previous 20-per-cent reduction.

Frenzy lobbying forced Holyrood into a partial climbdown during last year’s budgetary negotiations, which saw £2m restored into the overall pot. Governing bodies were asked to create ‘worthy’ schemes, with successful ones including an equality project driven by Scottish Swimming and a programme in deprived areas by Scottish Gymnastics.

‘We’ve no expectation that money is coming back next year,’ said one chief executive. ‘So the question is now: “Does the government want to invest in sport and all the benefits it delivers?”

‘There’s been so much pressure to deliver on the health agenda and well-being. That’s great. But you’re then taking resources away from the main aspect of sport, which is making it fun and accessible.’