Expert believes clubs are able to survive

Former Hearts administrator Bryan Jackson believes some Scottish football clubs are at genuine risk, but hopes they are robust enough to survive the coronavirus crisis.

Jackson, a consultant at Johnston Carmichael, helped stabilise Hearts after they fell into administration in 2013 following the collapse of owner Vladimir Romanov’s business empire.

With the prospect of no fans being allowed inside grounds this year, Jackson predicts a challenging time ahead for Scottish clubs.

He said: “In the past, it was down to mismanagement of sorts. This time, it’s outwith the control of the football industry. It’s a very difficult question as to whether there will be any formal casualties.

“If it wasn’t the football industry and it was, say, engineering, I would say yes, I would expect casualties. When it’s football, you can never tell, because you have this asset known on the balance sheet as the hardcore fans who do everything they can to try and ensure the survival of their clubs.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if there are one or two casualties, with no income for quite a period where it’s expenditure only.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if there weren’t any formal casualties, because the football industry is now quite robust and might just see its way through it.”

Jackson, however, believes it is inevitable that Scottish clubs will operate with reduced budgets and smaller squads.

He said: “Without knowing budgets and not having income and only expenditure, the only thing you can really do is cut down your expenditure.”

Anthony O’Connor puts in the graft while at the Dons