Malky money pledge
MALKY MACKAY has vowed there will be no repeat of the penny pinching that set Scotland’s women at war with the SFA.
Shelley Kerr’s squad have earned £1.1million for reaching the World Cup in France and all of will be invested in the group.
The Scots were drawn against England, Japan and
Argentina in Paris on Saturday night for games in next summer’s tournament in Nice, Rennes and Paris.
It’s the first time the Scottish women’s side have qualified for the World Cup and follows hard on the heels of their European Championship appearance last year. However, the run up to that competition was marred by a row over pay, conditions and a lack of support from the SFA that led to Anna Signeul’s players imposing a media blackout.
SFA performance director Mackay insists this time every resource will be made available to give the squad the best chance of qualifying for the last 16. He said: “FIFA have given us £700,000 for qualifying and there’s another £400,000 in prep money coming in.
“All of that money will be spent on the team, on top of over £1m we’ve committed at the moment.
“This year there will be more money than ever before spent on the women’s game. We’ll also look at the legacy beyond the World Cup to build into the next Euros.
“Between now and Nice I’ll be making sure Shelley gets everything she needs so the team is prepared exactly the way it should be going into that first match.
“Shelley’s focus should purely be on the next six months. We
have a plan in terms of the months we’re going to play and where we’re going to go.
“We’re taking part in the Algarve Cup for example, which is an incredibly prestigious tournament, for the first time in 15 years.
“Commercially? Of course that’s a big thing, absolutely.
“Certainly, we will make sure
we do everything we can to ensure the players, Shelley and her team are happy going into that first game.”
The first two teams from the six groups automatically qualify for the last 16, while another four places will also be up for grabs for the best third-placed sides.
The Scottish Government have already boosted the Scotland squad’s coffers with an £80,000 cash injection that will allow the part-time players to train full-time between January and June.
Kerr said: “Everyone connected with the SFA has said they want to support us in the best way possible.
“The overarching objective will be to help support the players to perform to their optimum best.
“I have had various conversations and they have been very positive.
“I’m pretty confident everything will be fine.
“There’s nothing to suggest otherwise. The focus has been on the football side.”