The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
McInnes hopes Dons fans can help bridge financial shortfall
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has made a desperate plea for supporters to snap up season tickets to ease the club’s financial worries.
Chairman Dave Cormack painted a bleak picture last week when he conceded that the Dons face £5 million of outgoings in the coming months with no income due to football being suspended as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Pittodrie club’s position has also not been helped by their insurers refusing to pay out on their ‘Business Interruption’ policy.
McInnes has issued a rally cry to fans in the hope they can help bridge the significant financial shortfall.
McInnes said: “There will be supporters who buy season tickets out there religiously.
“There will be a lot of season ticket holders who will want to see the outcome of this situation and what signings are made and that is their right.
“At this moment of time there is no income coming into the club and payments that have been due to us have been stalled for one reason or another.
“We have a lot of outgoings like tax and national insurance and not a lot coming back in.
“It is tough on the club.
“If supporters do know they are going to be buying season tickets for next season and they are in a position to go and do that or they are in a position to take more corporate packages or take a box and show that commitment through hospitality and commercial, then it would be so grateful and welcome.
“Everybody is doing all that they can. Dave and the board are working many hours to make sure that we keep everything moving along and addressing the importance and seriousness of the situation. And it is a serious situation.
“The communication is good between myself, the players and the board.
“We all want the same thing, to make sure that we come through this strongly and together and to make sure that we are ready to do what we are paid to do and that is to win football games.”
McInnes admits he fears football will not resume until deep into the summer.
He added: “It is the game we love, it is the industry that we are involved in and I think decisions are going to be tough, whenever it is safe for us to get back and playing football.”