As most supporters will have noted through various media sources over the past 48 hours, League One and Two clubs would appear to have registered their overwhelming intention to resume league fixtures in October and like their Championship counterparts compete in a reduced 27 game league programme.
This will obviously mean that for one season five teams will play fourteen games at home, the others thirteen.
All twenty clubs had to provide a firm indication of their thought process to the SPFL by noon on Friday past and they have now been asked to submit a formal vote on a resolution along these lines.
Like many others the Forfar Athletic Directors debated long and hard on the issue, finally deciding at their scheduled weekly Board Meeting on Thursday night to support the 27 game option.
Other possibilities on the ‘table’ were a full fixture programme which was never an option, an 18 game schedule starting in either December or January or ‘hibernate’ for a season.
Each option the 36 game scenario apart was debated at length and like so many other small businesses trying to battle through this pandemic, it was no easy decision to make for the nine Directors who of course all act in a voluntary capacity and are at the end of the day custodians of a local institution now in its 135th year.
The hibernation option probably gave the most financial security but it could have brought with it relegation without kicking a ball and obvious problems that would evolve starting from scratch some ten months on.
Both 18 game suggestions merited serious consideration but divisional meetings held over the past seven to ten days gave out the opinion, that with the ever improving situation in regard to the pandemic in Scotland, following the Championship’s lead was the preferred route certainly of the vast majority at the time.
However at Station Park we are not going to kid anyone, least of all our loyal supporters. This was the most difficult decision that a Forfar Athletic board will ever have had to make in of course circumstances that are totally unique and could never have been planned for.
For clubs like ourselves there is a worst case scenario of a potential and what could be catastrophic six figure loss for the financial year. This situation could arise if for example medical protocol requirements having to be adhered to at present by Premiership clubs are not relaxed considerably by late August and if games still have to be played behind closed doors come October with no hospitality revenue, allied to the potential of no further new external funding from any source.
The £50,000 payment that the ‘Loons’ like all SPFL clubs have received from the SPFL Trust through the benevolence of Edinburgh businessman James Anderson has been so welcome and his generosity will and should never be forgotten, but if current circumstances were still to prevail it will not cover start-up costs.
Of course we all hope and pray that by the time training commences at our level, the medical requirements will be significantly reduced and certainly the daily statistics provided by the First Minister continue to give great reason for optimism that this may be the case.
The 17th of October, the likely date for the first group of league fixtures is still 16 weeks away, with the early rounds of the Betfred League Cup possibly being played earlier the same month. It is the fervent hope of all in the game that as will be the case for example in Ireland come Mid July, spectators even though numbers may still be restricted will be allowed in grounds by the time early Autumn is upon us.
Again with pubs and restaurants due to re-open next month, it would be hoped that if spectators were allowed access ‘cometh the hour,’ hospitality revenue perhaps with certain limitations would become a possibility.
If only we had a crystal ball!
However one of the main reasons for the decision of the ‘Loons’ board to back the October start date was our loyal fan base. We are part of the football industry and it is important that like all other walks of life, normality returns as soon as possible.
Club officials will undoubtedly hope that the supporters will ’step up to the plate’ in the months ahead, purchase the season tickets when the time comes along, support the fund raising efforts as they re-appear on the scene when circumstances permit, snap up their Cov19 bricks, purchase the Lucky Loons Lotto tickets etc.
As mentioned in previous communications the club would be delighted to hear from any supporter who is interested in getting more involved in the club’s activities whether it be our fund raising arm or perhaps other avenues within the structure. Similarly anyone with the Athies at heart requiring further details of share issue, or as mentioned above buying a brick in the Cov19 Wall of Fame, joining the Loons Lucky Lotto or perhaps even contemplating making a financial contribution to the funds, please do get in touch.
If you wish further information contact any club official, for certain aspects of course in a confidential manner, alternatively e mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 07871165689.
As ever we will attempt to keep all up to date in the weeks ahead as best we can, but in the meantime C’mon the ‘Loons’, and to Forfar Athletic supporters wherever they may be, keep safe and well, enjoy some of the lifting of restrictions in the pipeline in a responsible manner and prepare for a return to ‘active service.’
