Scottish Premiership clubs to discuss league reconstruction plans
Last updated 31st May 2020
Scottish Premiership clubs will hold talks on Monday to discuss league reconstruction plans but the cost of starting next season will also be high up the agenda.
The Scottish Football Association is set to lift the suspension of all activity around the sport from June 11, although clubs will be restricted to two households training together under government rules during phase one of the route out of lockdown.
An August 1 kick-off for the new season has been pencilled in for the top flight, although again the Scottish Government has urged caution over that date as it depends on the country moving to phase two.
However, major concerns have been expressed by some clubs over the cost of coronavirus testing.
Kilmarnock chairman Billy Bowie has predicted that clubs would need financial assistance if they were asked to embark on expensive testing regimes.
Estimates of £4,500 have been made for the weekly cost of testing players and staff at each club, although SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell last weekend claimed clubs could possibly cut that figure in half by being creative.
Ross County have already bought a Covid-19 testing machine - which are said to cost about £35,000 - but still need to shell out £50 for each test.
Chairman Roy MacGregor told the Sunday Mail: We felt we had to do it. But there's no doubt that testing is the biggest challenge now for clubs.
I can understand clubs who say they can't afford it with no gate receipts. And somewhere down the line, help needs to come from the centre.''
Hearts owner Ann Budge is keen for open-minded dialogue to be revived on reconstruction despite top-flight clubs rejecting any idea of a temporary reorganisation weeks ago.
Budge accepts her 14-14-14 plan will not happen - Clyde and Peterhead confirmed they would not support it this weekend and there is doubt over the prospects of playing at all this year for some clubs.
But she wants her document to be a starting point for discussions which she hopes rescue her club from relegation.
The Tynecastle chairman also sparked another talking point on Saturday when she criticised the SPFL leadership for not taking a more proactive stance when she told them of possible financial assistance for lower-division clubs from philanthropists'' who approached her.
SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster quickly promised to do that.
He said on Saturday: I am delighted to have heard Ann's comment on the radio that there are, in fact, no conditions attached to this money.
I had been under the impression that Ann was going to continue talking to the potential investors, but if it is now appropriate for me to talk to them directly, I am very happy to do so.
Clearly, any income for our game, especially at such a difficult time, is something we would all welcome. I will be speaking again to Ann over the weekend and hope to be in a position to update our divisional meetings this week.''