Brechin City FC faces up to the same uncertainty around our footballing future as the vast majority of football clubs in Scotland and beyond. Whilst there are far bigger fights to be fought than the intricacies of Scottish senior football, members and fans can be assured that those charged with running the Club remain focused on ensuring Brechin City exists when society emerges from this pandemic.

In addition to regular engagement with the Scottish FA and the SPFL, the Club’s Management Committee are holding regular meetings via video conferencing facilities to assess the fast moving developments relating to the COVID-19 crisis. Of primary importance is the health and wellbeing of our staff with our players and coaches being subject to the same restrictions to their daily lives as everyone else. Training nights have been suspended with players instructed to remain at home and maintain their fitness as best as possible. Glebe Park is now locked down, meaning that the variety of community activities hosted during weekdays are no longer taking place. No valuables or cash are retained within the stadium.

Contractual commitments, including player wages, continue to be met by the Club – although it’s fully recognised this cannot continue indefinitely. This is being reviewed on a week-to-week basis and, like those in charge of running any small business at present, the Management Committee is keen to fully understand the detail behind the range of Government Coronavirus Business Support initiatives, some of which have yet to progress beyond headline announcements. Put simply, eligibility (or otherwise) of these support mechanisms will be crucial in underpinning the future decisions taken by the Management Committee on behalf of Club members.

A serious financial situation will become increasingly precarious very soon as all income has effectively ceased - with no known re-start date. Gate income and revenue from matchday hospitality simply stopped without warning, and crucial fundraising social events had to be cancelled too – namely the Ladies Day and the Sportsman’s Dinner. This week also saw the suspension of our long established club lottery, the Glebe Gamble.

Acknowledging that some clubs have recently introduced their own versions of a “Fighting Fund” clearly Brechin City fans are well familiar with the concept. The Management Committee, already humbled by the generosity of fans at the turn of the year, are reluctant to simply ask supporters to dig deep again. Unless government interventions materialise, we simply have to manage through with the money we’ve got. That said, the fund remains open for donations, so – being mindful of no forthcoming club revenues – anyone who considers themselves to be in a position to willingly contribute is clearly welcome to do so. A reminder of how to donate can be viewed via the link * HERE *

With no clear sense of when football action is likely to return, the plea from Brechin City FC is for everyone associated with the Club (and those who are aren’t) to do everything possible to protect your physical and mental health and that of those around you. Keep safe by following the public health guidelines, stay at home, wash your hands regularly … and in turn let’s do all we can to help the absolute heroes at the front line of our NHS.