Scots sport could get emergency funding

THE Scottish Government last night expressed its optimism that crisis-hit football clubs and other sporting organisations north of the border will get their fair share of any emergency rescue packages from Westminster. The UK Government has already agreed to hand non-league outfits in England grants from a £20million pot it has set aside to offset the losses incurred by a ban on supporters attending matches due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Earlier this week, Holyrood ministers were unclear if a portion of that money would go to clubs north of the border who face an estimated £50m black hole because of the ongoing crisis.

Last night, however, Scottish Sports Minister Joe FitzPatrick confirmed that he had met with UK Minister for Sport, Heritage and Tourism, Nigel Huddleston, to discuss the wider financial package being developed by Westminster to support those sporting organisations which are most affected by a delay of the return of spectators to stadia.

And although the finer details have yet to be ironed out, Mr FitzPatrick believes it has been agreed in principle that Scottish sport will be handed an equitable percentage of any funds that are forthcoming.

‘I had a productive meeting with the UK Minister,’ he said. ‘While the details of the UK Government scheme are still to be worked through, any Barnett consequentials will apply where relevant. ‘We both agreed that it has been an enormously challenging time for the sporting sector and the pandemic has put a real financial strain on many sporting organisations.

‘I will shortly write to the governing bodies of Scottish sports to ask them to provide us with further detailed information so that we can start work on developing a suitable scheme for the sector, while we await formal confirmation of any relevant consequentials from the UK Government.’