Fans frustrated as Nicola keeps them at bay for another month

÷WHAT WAS ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY?

First Minister nicola Sturgeon revealed that plans for restricted numbers of fans to return to Scottish football grounds had been postponed from September 14 until at least october 5.

Sturgeon insisted the delay was necessary due to cases of coronavirus ‘accelerating’ across the country. The new date could well be pushed back further.

‘I must stress again that this remains an indicative date, a final decision can only be taken much nearer the time,’ said the First Minister. ‘Unfortunately spectators will not be able to return to sports stadia and other venues over the next three weeks.’

÷HAS THIS COME AS A SHOCK TO SCOTTISH FOOTBALL?

It provides confirmation of fears that had steadily been growing. Hope of having fans at all six Premiership fixtures next weekend (September 19-20) looked forlorn when Sturgeon dropped a hint on wednesday that she was ready to call a halt amid the spike in new cases.

÷WHAT ABOUT THE TEST EVENTS PLANNED FOR TOMORROW?

Those have already been signed off and will go ahead. Aberdeen v Kilmarnock and Ross County v

Celtic will each have 300 home fans in attendance, with strict protocols being observed.

‘However, after that we will judge possible pilot events on a case-by-case basis and in light of the latest Covid data,’ warned Sturgeon.

Rangers v Dundee United and St Mirren v Hibs had also been considered as potential test events before local Covid-19 restrictions were tightened in Glasgow and Renfrewshire.

÷IS THERE A CHANCE OF FANS BEING AT THE FIRST OLD FIRM GAME?

That has yet to be ruled out. But the signs are not promising.

The SPFL shifted the derby at Celtic Park as far back as possible in the fixture list — to the 11th round of Premiership matches on October 17 — in the hope that the flagship fixture would have some form of attendance.

However, the new October 5 date is a best-case scenario for the level of coronavirus cases and will also be influenced by the outcome of test events.

÷WILL THE FINANCIAL EFFECTS ALSO BE FELT BELOW THE PREMIERSHIP?

Very much so. The Championship, Leagues One and Two are all set to resume on the same day as the Old Firm match. The longer the lock-out continues, the more clubs at all levels are denied gate receipts that make up such a vital part of their income. Streaming services — even where feasible — do not pick up the slack.

÷WHAT IS THE SITUATION SOUTH OF THE BORDER?

Not that different. The new English Premier League season begins this weekend, with all games behind closed doors.

There are plans for fans to be phased back from next month, but those have been thrown into doubt by the new restrictions announced in England.

Premier League chief Richard Masters said earlier this week that it could cost clubs up to £700million this season if supporters cannot return.

‘We have to get back to fans inside stadia as quickly as possible,’ said Masters.

‘That’s the big thing that’s missing, economic or otherwise — we need fans back inside stadiums for all sorts of reasons and it’s the No 1 priority.’