Clubs’ Euro progress hits Clarke plans for play- offs
Steve Clarke has been dealt a blow in his preparations for the Euro 2020 play- off semi- final against Israel after it was announced that Celtic and Rangers’ last league fixtures before the tie have been moved back two days.
The SPF L originally granted five days of rest before the crucial game with Israel on Thursday 8 October.
A full Scottish Premiership fixture card was scheduled for Friday 2 October, but the Old Firm’s participation in the Europa League has forced a change. The play- off round matches for Europe’s secondary club competition will all be held on Thursday 1 October.
Rangers’ home clash with Ross County will now take place on Sunday 4 October with a 3pm kick- off, while Celtic’s televised trip to St Johnstone has been moved to noon on the same day.
Five Old Firm players are expected to be included in Clarke’s squad, including Celtic trio Ryan Christie, James Forrest and Callum Mcgregor, who are regular starters for the national team.
There will be additional rest for Motherwell pair De clan Gallagher and Stephen O’donnell, Livingston keeper Robbie
meet government protocols and safeguard the TV deal by kicking off the season.
But the latest set back means that clubs are now in danger of going under, taking centuries of history and hundreds of jobs with them.
“It is not just about football as a sport, it is also a multimulti- million pound business in this country,” said Dempster. “Football in Scotland, both directly and indirectly, employs thousands and thousands of people and, directly and indirectly, it is responsible for hundreds of millions of pounds of income into the economy.
“And, let’s not forget that it has an absolute role in being a business engine and all that goes along with that both in the local communities and in the wider Scottish business.
“I don’t think anyone is saying football is 100 times more important than any other industry but we are one of the main cultural and societal hooks in Scotland and if we don’t act and if we are not given help, whatever that might be, then, and this isn’t me exaggerating the worst case scenario, clubs won’t survive and those cultural links and straight lines back into the late 1800s of football and its important role in Scottish life will be devastated and broken. We can’t let that happen and we shouldn’t let that happen.”
The Hibs chief executive added t hat t hings would have reached drastic proportions a while ago had it not been for the fans.
“It would have been even worse without the support and backing of our fans. Everything we are achieving on the pitch at the moment is down to them. Nearly 11,500 season tickets is incredible at a time of such uncertainty.”
That, along with strip sales and monthly contributions via the HSL, amounting to £ 75,000 since mid June, has helped ease the burden.
But like every other industry, Hibs have had to lay off staff, furlough others and ask players to agree wage deferrals and salary cuts. There is little scope left for further savings, warns Dempster.
“We need to make it clear that we need help. We need to let ever yone know j ust how dire the situation is.”