ROY MacGREGOR fears the worst is still to come for Scottish football and that the lower leagues of the SPFL are particularly vulnerable to the financial effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Ross County chairman appeared on BBC Sportsound and outlined his concerns for the wellbeing of clubs outwith the Premiership – and admitted that clubs must work together to ensure that each team comes out the other side of the crisis intact.
When asked if Scottish football was simply in survival mode, he replied: “I think that’s an accurate description of all levels of football including grassroots. It was encouraging to hear Ian Maxwell talk about some positives as well as some negatives.”
He continued: “I am very worried for lower league football and part-time clubs and clubs particularly that rely on gate receipts. I was horrified when I heard the Championship might consider playing just half a season. These things do worry me because I think we have a responsibility as 42 clubs to stick together and try and make sure everyone gets through this traumatic period.
“We are in a health crisis. I think the worst is yet to come. I think we’re going to have a tsunami of unemployment and mental issues and big things to deal with, and lack of disposable income. I think the challenges ahead are more than the challenges we’ve had up to now. I’m not being negative there, I’m just being realistic. I think this season is going to be a very different season to all the time I’ve been involved in football.”
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