Coronavirus

Forfar Athletic officials like all Scottish senior clubs are receiving a daily briefing/update form the SPFL and the SFA in relation to the Coronavirus which is having such a catastrophic effect worldwide.

Last night it was confirmed by the SPFL that this weekend’s full programme of matches commencing with two games tonight will procede as scheduled.

Therefore Forfar Athletic’s home game against Airdrieonians will go ahead as scheduled with a 3p.m. kick-off.

Decisions will be made by the beginning of next week by the football authorities in conjunction with government officials and health experts on the way forward for the game in Scotland in the immediate future.

At League One/Two level there would seem to be on the surface little enthusiasm for playing games behind closed doors, while the restriction of a maximum crowd of 500 would prove a problem for some, though not all.

Any decision taken though will be made without doubt with the health of all concerned at the forefront.

Although the worldwide crisis is far more important and a worry to all, on the football front the financial implications moving forward for clubs at the ‘Loons’ level are serious with the loss of revenue from home games which now plays such an important part thanks to sponsorship, hospitality etc alongside the gate receipts.

External fund raisers will obviously also come under threat effecting cash flow and the ability to meet wage, hmrc payments etc on an monthly basis going forward.

No doubt all will pull through in what are extraordinary times and as has been said often in the past week by many, the immediate future of sporting events pales into insignificance alongside what is now a worldwide pandemic.