Scottish FA accelerate club payments to combat Coronavirus losses

Scottish clubs and academies are to get an immediate £1.5 million to help during the Coronavirus crisis which has brought a halt to football throughout the land.

Clubs are in limbo after the game was suspended until further notice with fears of financial problems to come.

However, the Scottish Football Association/Scottish Professional Football League' Joint Response Group released a statement aimed at alleviating anxieties.

It read: "Since last week's decision to suspend all Scottish football matches, based on government and UK Medical Officers advice, the board of the Scottish FA has worked closely with its Operations Board to look at ways of alleviating the short-term cash flow burden on member clubs by advancing payments due for future distribution.

"Further to those considerations, the Scottish FA Board has approved immediate funds totalling £1.5 million to members from club licensing and club academy Scotland award payments.

"These would otherwise be payable towards the end of the year but will instead be distributed in the next 24 hours to help mitigate the financial impact of coronavirus and the suspension of matches.''

Rod Petrie, Scottish FA President, said: "I am pleased to announce the immediate cash payments to members of club licensing and club academy Scotland amounts which were budgeted to be paid later this year.

"Given the financial uncertainty faced by clubs, we have looked at areas of distribution where we can accelerate and pay now, rather than wait to pay on the usual distribution dates.

"The combined amount forward funded in this way is approximately £1.5 million, which we believe will be of great support to clubs who face uncertainty and, worse still, a significant loss of revenue as a result of the impact of Coronavirus in Scotland.

"I would like to thank our chief executive, Ian Maxwell, and the operations board for their expediency in enabling us to bring forward the payments.''