SFA floodlights demand ‘could kill small clubs’

FOOTBALL clubs warn they face closure because of ‘unfair’ financial demands being imposed upon them by the sport’s governing body.

The Scottish Football Association (SFA) has told all of its senior sides they must install floodlights – or be barred from the Scottish Cup.

But some clubs have told The Scottish Mail on Sunday they cannot afford to pay tens of thousands of pounds to have the fixtures added at their grounds.

They claim that if they are axed from the Cup, the loss of income

‘Could be devastating ... the end for us’

could force them to close. The SFA is supposed to develop all aspects of the sport, including at grassroots and lower-league levels.

Among the clubs claiming they face hardship paying for floodlights are Vale of Leithen FC, from Innerleithen, Peeblesshire, and Whitehill Welfare FC, who play in Rosewell, Midlothian.

Wigtown and Bladnoch FC, in Wigtownshire, say they could face closure if they lose their SFA licence.

All three clubs rely heavily on annual payouts from the SFA, including cash received for playing in the Cup. They say paying for new lights is taking funding away from building up their teams – including their youth sides.

Vale of Leithen formed in 1891 and are members of the Scottish Lowland Football League. They said the floodlights demand is ‘unfair’.

John Anderson, Vale of Leithen vice-chairman, said: ‘To get a licence, we have to meet criteria set by the SFA licensing department.

‘They say that we need floodlights, which cost around £50,000.

‘It’s a lot of money – potentially it could end the club.’

Chairman Stewart Robertson said the issue was affecting small clubs up and down the country. He added: ‘This will cripple us. If we don’t get our membership, we lose payments from the SFA, which are most of the club’s income.’

Whitehill Welfare won 16 East of Scotland League titles before joining the Lowland League in 2013. Secretary John Quinn said they would had to ‘shelve’ their youth teams to fund floodlights.

He added: ‘How can that be good for grassroots football or developing the club? If we don’t get our SFA licence renewed, it will be devastating. It could be the end of the club’s existence.’

Wigtown and Bladnoch, of the South of Scotland League, said they cannot afford the full cost of floodlights, but will struggle for income if they lose their membership.

Treasurer Josh Thorley said: ‘Unless we can replace the money we receive from the SFA with alternative income, we face the prospect of losing our club.’

Yesterday, the SFA suggested the deadline of June next year may be flexible. A spokesman added: ‘One of the key goals of our licensing department is for continuous improvement, therefore the introduction of floodlights across all clubs will help raise the standards of the game in Scotland.

‘It also gives clubs the chance to host televised matches in the earlier rounds of the Scottish Cup.’