ROSS SHOCKED BY THE LACK OF LOBBYING TO GET FANS IN

hire, stewarding and Covid protocols, Scottish football looks unlikely to see fans back in meaningful numbers before the season’s end. ‘I find it a little surprising we seem to have taken our foot off the accelerator a little bit or stopped lobbying for supporters in stadiums,’ admitted Ross yesterday. ‘I know it’s not just as simple as people being in stadiums, I know people will point to the commute and how people travel. ‘But, equally, when you open shopping centres people will travel to those by different ways. I don’t really understand why we’re not edging close to it or trying to do it. ‘It’s huge in people’s lives and that’s what has got lost in all of this, we don’t just want football fans in stadiums to pay bills, we don’t just want them in stadiums to make a noise. ‘We want them because it’s a massive part of people’s lives, it’s a huge part of their mental health, their wellbeing, their social lives. ‘I’m sure in years to come people will be able to reflect and look at the damage it has done in that respect, because it has left a massive, gaping hole in people’s lives over the past year and a bit. ‘I do think we should be doing more to address that further, particularly when you look at a world snooker final being played in front of nigh on 1,000 people indoors. I struggle with that. I don’t quite get the logic. ‘I am sure someone smarter than me and more knowledgeable regards science will tell me why that is the case. But it is slightly baffling for me as well.’ With worried Premiership clubs applying pressure on the SPFL to chase answers from the government over how many fans will be allowed back next season, Ross fears the current season has been all but written off despite other spheres being given the green light to open up. ‘With everything we are doing as a country, and the strides we are making towards allowing people to get back towards a normal life with the vaccination programme, etc, I do think the timing of it is an opportunity for us to progress it. ‘Particularly when you look at the fact there will be thousands of fans inside stadiums at the Euros not that far from now. ‘For us to go from zero to that amount seems a little bit strange as well. ‘It’s almost like we have accepted it for this season and we’ve almost rolled over and said it’s not going to happen, let’s worry about next season. ‘It’s a shame, because there’s still some big games over the course of the next couple of weeks.’ SFA attempts to explore an alternative venue for the Scottish Cup final failed to come up with a solution. Ross says his own preference would be to play in front of supporters, whatever the venue. ‘I think this season has made us yearn for people being back in stadia,’ he added. ‘When you watch back old games, even games from over a year ago, and you see the crowds inside grounds and you see how fans react, then any opportunity we have to get people back we should do it. ‘Equally, for those fans who have been denied the opportunity, the thought of getting some of them in for the final would be a huge reward and it would be great to get them involved.’