ROAD TO RUIN
Clubs warn they will go to the wall unless a decision is made on prizes
THE SFA and SPFL were last night implored to provide immediate clarity on their plans to conclude the Scottish football season and distribute prize money — or risk several clubs going to the wall within weeks.
Edinburgh City chairman Jim Brown, whose team sat second in League Two prior to the suspension of the season due to coronavirus, has seen hopes of promotion turn to fears for the future of his part-time club in the last ten days.
A Scottish FA rescue package of £1.5million delivered a payment of just £4,000 to the capital outfit due to their ‘entry level’ status in the association’s club licensing structure.
And although PFA Scotland chief Fraser Wishart last night described the government’s emergency wage bail-out as a potential ‘game-changer’ for Scotland’s lower league clubs, Brown revealed that he and several of his fellow League Two chairmen have already formed a view that their part-time playing staff will not be eligible for inclusion in
Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Job Retention Scheme.
On Thursday, the SPFL held meetings with the lower league clubs via video conference. Brown heard little to encourage him.
‘I don’t feel we are getting any help or guidance from the SPFL,’ he said. ‘We had the meeting by video call but after that we felt no further forward.
‘We need some clarity and we need it soon. Clubs could definitely go to the wall in this period.
‘If they made a decision to call the leagues based on current standings or even declared it null and void, then prize money could be distributed. That money would really help our cash flow.’
Yesterday, the Highland League decided to crown Brora Rangers champions. A full 13 points clear with six games to play, the decision to award Brora the title was taken by member vote but complications abound further up the pyramid.
Issues of sporting integrity, potential legal challenges and the
details of broadcasting and sponsorship contracts that currently prop up the game are all exercising the minds of SPFL officials, who insist their priority is to complete the current season.
Officially, Scottish football is on hold until the end of April, with UEFA issuing a directive that all domestic competition be completed by June 30.
Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell described that timescale as ‘unrealistic’ as Britain prepares for the medical emergency to heighten.
With day-to-day income at a halt and bills continuing to mount, several SPFL clubs have already entered negotiations with their playing squads regarding wage cuts, most notably Premiership side Hearts.
Brown has thus far stopped short of pursuing that same course of action but acknowledges the clock is ticking.
He said: ‘Our share of the SFA’s £1.5m was £4,000. The next league payment we are due is in early April and will amount to £1,350 plus vat.
‘So between now and the summer, we will have £5,500 to get through. It’s not enough.
‘Based on last year’s figures, the end-of-season payment for finishing second would be around £24,000. We didn’t budget to finish so high but if we knew that kind of money was coming, even in June, we could at least try to make provision to get through.’
Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland’s
Sportsound programme yesterday, players union chief Wishart urged club directors and the authorities to take a step back before making profound decisions.
‘We are only a week in and that’s why I’ve appealed for a bit of calm,’ he said. ‘I understand the position of club directors but this situation is changing day to day. There could be a way through to make sure we still have 42 clubs at the end of this pandemic.
‘The government announcement provides a bit of hope. When I heard it, I thought: “This could be a game-changer”.’
On Friday, Sunak announced that Boris Johnson’s government would pay grants to fund 80 per cent of employers’ wages up to a ceiling of £2,500 a month. While that should help clubs with full-time players and employees, Brown has been advised it will be of little use to most League One and League Two clubs.
‘I’ve been in contact with a few of my fellow chairmen who have looked into the 80-per-cent government wage payment and it seems that it will only apply to an individual’s first job,’ he said. ‘The vast majority of part-time players would not be covered.
‘Perhaps if a player does not have a full-time job, we might be able to work something out but in most cases the advice we are getting is that our players will largely not be eligible.
‘So we are no further forward. I’d imagine most clubs from League One down would be in the same position.
‘If somebody could say to us definitively that this is to be a two-month shutdown, then we could plan accordingly and, hopefully, find a way through. If we are not to play again until September, then wow. Things could get really serious.’
Suggestions that next season’s League Cup might be cancelled in order to accommodate the completion of the current campaign have also concerned Brown. He continued: ‘The introduction of the League Cup group stages in the summer has been a big help to us.
‘It has brought income and guaranteed a game against a Premiership club. They should be trying to maintain that.’
While the game’s governing bodies are struggling with a host of unforeseen and unprecedented scenarios, efforts are afoot to keep clubs afloat.
‘We are trying to raise funds,’ said Brown. ‘Our sponsors are very good and we are in discussions with them but effectively we are asking for next season’s money before they have had full value from this season’s investment. We have started a JustGiving page online to raise funds and some of the responses there have been very encouraging.’
Clubs are not getting any guidance. We need clarity and we need it soon