Elgin City set for October SPFL return to action but will fans be allowed to cheer them on?
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GRAHAM Tatters hopes Elgin City matches behind closed doors will be kept to a minimum when football returns to Borough Briggs for a shortened League 2 season.
City’s 21st national league campaign is set to begin on Saturday October 17, a reduced 27-game term with each of the 10 clubs meeting three times instead of the traditional four.
The Moray outfit will prepare for their return to action from a seven-month shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic being in front of empty stadiums for the initial period.
However City chairman Tatters is hopeful that crowds will be allowed into Scottish fixtures soon after the season start, potentially by the end of October.
“I think people are looking at even getting a specific number of spectators in in and around October when we start,” he said.
A betting form has offered the club cameras and software to stream matches live to supporters, an option Elgin is considering if it is financially viable.
City will be footing their squad’s wage bill once again in September when the players come off of furlough to resume contact training.
Competitive football could begin around October 7, with proposals already in place to begin the Betfred Cup. This season it is not mandatory for clubs to enter the tournament, meaning some teams could opt to sit it out in favour of preparing for the league start.
City manager Gavin Price himself made his first trip through to Borough Briggs last weekend to meet the club’s board for a socially distanced meeting.
“We were trying to sort the budget out and discuss any players that he wants to bring in,” Tatters added.
“It’s very hairy at the
moment trying to analyse how much money you are going to have to give the manager.
“That was the seventh time we have spoke about budgets and we are all singing from the same hymn sheet but we have to come up with something that is affordable. We are guessing all the time, but from four weeks ago we feel we are in a more comfortable position to give him some more.
“There are risks. You might end up having to pay 22 players and it’s a massive undertaking in case there’s a spike (in Covid-19 cases) or anything happens that stops football again.”
Elgin players have been keeping fit during lockdown and will begin a more specific training regime this month.
Proper pre-season will take place in October with contact training and friendly matches which can safely be arranged.
Tatters also hopes coronavirus testing will only be required once a week by the time Elgin resume training.
That won’t come without its problems, as tests have to be analysed before players can train or play and the nearest testing facility is in Aberdeen.
“Ross County get the testing done [in Dingwall] then get it sent down with the courier to the central belt and analysed down there and they only get the results the next day,” he said. “It’s a dilemma at the moment.”
City have been fundraising throughout the shutdown period.
The club's City Saver scheme has been revamped while a Buy a Brick scheme on a wall inside Borough Briggs is still available for fans to purchase.
Elgin fans have also been steadily donating to their club's Justgiving page during the shutdown, with almost £9000 raised so far.
