Veteran gaffer fears for the future of clubs
Scotland’s longestserving manager, Jim McInally, fears for the future of clubs across Scotland if the lockdown of the game due to the coronavirus outbreak lasts for several weeks.
The Peterhead boss, who has been in charge at Balmoor since October, 2011, said: “This is a pretty incredible situation, and one I have never seen in all my time as a manager.
“There are lots of people suffering with this, and there lots of other social issues that need looked at.
“So it is awkward to speak about money – but this could spell the end for some clubs.
“We were due to play a game against league leaders Raith Rovers yesterday, with a full corporate hospitality suite and a good number of fans up from Kirkcaldy.
“That revenue will not now be received.
“I watched an interview with Raith’s manager, John McGlynn, where he said that suspending the season would have an adverse impact, and I totally agree with him.
“Clubs have shown over the years that they can take the odd hit with postponements. But most part-time clubs survive on a month-tomonth basis.
“Any prolonged period where revenue is not being received is going to hurt them.
“The SPFL have said that they have no funding available to help. So who do clubs turn to then – the government.”
However, McInally reckons that Holyrood may not be willing to help clubs.
He explained: “On Thursday night, there was a TV programme about the drug epidemic in Dundee, and how much funding is needed to help tackle that.
“You have other issues, such as the suicide rate amongst youngsters.
“Would keeping a football club going be deemed a higher priority than tackling those issues?
“We are in a very uncertain time, and anything that can be done to provide certainty over what happens this season would help.”
Reports yesterday suggested SFA chiefs chose to suspend the season after running out of patience with the Scottish Government.
It was suggested that days of discussions between Hampden and Holyrood failed to produce any firm view on the way ahead for football.
So Hampden’s Sixth Floor took matters into their own hands, and called everything off – even though a sold-out Old Firm match at Ibrox was less than 48 hours away.