Top clubs in Scotland can’t afford to, but English big guns should offer a £2.5m bail out
We’re living through times when everyone has to come together for the greater good.
There have been amazing stories about the way communities are helping people struggling to cope with life during the coronavirus crisis.
The same thing should be happening in football.
I’m still adamant the top leagues must finish this season at some point and I don’t see why they shouldn’t.
But I accept there are reasons why smaller clubs have decided to call a halt to proceedings.
The Highland League ended their campaign and last Saturday awarded the title to Brora Rangers. It seems to have been a move welcomed by their member clubs.
The FA has cancelled a number of non-league seasons, although that hasn’t been universally popular.
You can understand teams on the brink of promotion being incredibly frustrated at seeing their dreams going up in smoke.
‘ This is a one-off. None of us have experienced anything like this in our lifetime
But it may be better financially for the lesser lights to put themselves into cold storage and start afresh next term.
This is a health and safety issue at the moment but, make no mistake about it, we’re dealing with a huge financial problem in the longer term.
The public needs strong, clear leadership during this crisis and football is no different.
I believe the Premier League clubs down south are ideally placed to get a grip of the situation.
They can ensure that not a single club – large or small – goes out of business in England.
That protects jobs in and around so many places. It’s also so important for public morale.
I’m calling for every top club to donate a minimum of £2.5 million to a fighting fund.
It might sound a lot of money but – despite what they might say – it’s small change for a Premier League club.
There are many of them with wage bills that run into hundreds of millions.
I know some of them are against this because they believe clubs will come to the big boys every time they’re in trouble.
You can’t think like that.
This is a one-off. None of us have experienced anything like this during our lifetime.
I hope that we’ll never see times like this again.
The 20 top clubs should think of the greater good and dig into their bank balances.
Don’t forget, the television companies have been throwing vast amounts of cash at them for years.
The clubs who have benefited most have a moral responsibility to protect the long-term health of the game.
Many countries outside England – including Scotland – don’t have clubs with tens of millions to throw about on players.
There will be tough decisions to be made and livelihoods lost.
Hearts, Aberdeen, Hibs and others have been sounding the alarm bells.
But that doesn’t have to happen in England.
And that’s one of the reasons why I won’t change my mind about completing the season.
We can’t have Liverpool denied the chance to win their first title for 30 years.
That has to happen, even if it takes until October.
Clubs like Leeds United and West
Brom should get the chance to win promotion to the top flight.
The Premier League play-off match at Wembley is one of the richest in the world and can define a club’s fortunes for years.
Footballers are often seen as a spoiled, selfish group of people.
But we’ve seen a number of them step up to the plate and do what they can to help.
Manchester United keeper David de Gea donated 300,000 Euros to the fight against coronavirus in Madrid.
Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs have opened their hotels to NHS workers and Joe Cole donated £25,000 to support those on the front line.
Others that we’re not hearing about are giving their time and money. The clubs should act now. Football is a massive part of people’s lives up and down the country.
Supporters are down and it’s up to the cash-rich clubs to come to their aid.
They have to take the lead.