IT’S been a bad day all round for the Null and Voiders, although they did get some ‘good news’ when they were able to revel in the stark financial warning issued by Aberdeen FC today. The Dons are looking at a £5million coronavirus loss and are looking to their investors and supporters to assist to ensure that the club can navigate it’s way through the crisis.
The Aberdeen statement explained that at the time play was suspended indefinitely due to the pandemic, the club had £1.2m in the bank, was debt free and had plenty of other revenue streams open to it, including the revenue from the remaining home games, the appearance in the Scottish Cup semi-final and if successful in that match, the final itself, plus the season ticket sales, media and sponsorship revenues for the next campaign.
Aberdeen’s statement was measured, frank and outlined the difficulties that ALL clubs will have to contend with over the next few months if not longer. Yet if you look at the Aberdeen FC tweet on this statement you will notice that it has been infested by the Rangers support who seem to think that it’s some kind of karma, even a ‘jelly and ice-cream’ moment, according to one commentator on the Follow Follow site.
The irony is stark as is the stupidity. Aberdeen are debt free, well run and had money in the bank when the crisis struck. In contrast their own club has openly declared that they require a large multi-million investment just to see out the season, they have recorded loss after loss every year since they were formed and they have on going court cases with various retail partners and are in the not too distant future going to have to ‘do an Aberdeen’ and update their support about the severe financial situation that they find themselves in. In could be 2012 all over again and the Aberdeen support, will remember well their gloating today.
Read the Aberdeen FC statement below…
CLUB STATEMENT | Chairman, @CormackDavie has provided the following update regarding the ongoing situation ➡ https://t.co/0JLQZx7KZv#StandFree pic.twitter.com/7bf6tM4119
— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC) March 23, 2020
One suggestion that Aberdeen could consider would be pre-sell their tickets for the Scottish Cup semi-final with Celtic, which is set to be played later in the year, perhaps in August. The supporters who but these advance tickets will get first refusal for the final should they beat Celtic.
This would also give the Aberdeen support a chance to make a financial input into the club at this time of crisis and will help get it through to the point when play can resume and today Ian Maxwell, the SFA CEO has revealed that he fully intends to finish the season to it’s completion.
That therefore ends all thoughts of Null and Void, the last pathetic ambition of the failed enterprise that has been operating out of Govan for these past 8 years.
“I don’t think there is a consideration for cancellation,” Ian Maxwell told BBC 5 Live today, as reported by Glasgow Times.
“I think it’s the same concerns that the English Premier League have in terms of broadcast contracts and contractual obligations that will apply to every league across the world.
“The income is vital regardless of what the headline number is and it’s important we get games finished.
“Everyone wants to get the games played, the guys who get the winner’s medals at the end of the season want to know they’ve played every match and no-one can come back and say they didn’t deserve it in any way.
“Clubs who are potentially in relegation spots, if they’re going to go down at the end of the season then it’s because they’ve been given every chance to avoid that and it’s something we need to try and work through.”
This is excellent news for Celtic Supporters – and indeed for all clubs in Scottish football, especially the Premiership. Awarding Celtic the title due to the league being ended early would deny the Celtic fans of our Nine-in-a-Row celebrations including the day the league is won and of course Trophy Day.
If we have to wait until July or even August to play these games then so be it. It’s not a matter of IF Celtic win the league, it’s more a case of WHEN and that why the Null and Voiders what the whole campaign scrapped.
NEWS | Joint Response Group Update – Monday, 23 March.https://t.co/jiK0pFrdDU
— Scottish FA (@ScottishFA) March 23, 2020
Take The Celtic Star’s Photo Tour of Celtic Park and enjoy our stunning photos from inside Paradise RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW.
Support Celtic Youth Development
Help raise money for Celtic Youth Development by joining the £1 weekly lottery and you could win up to £25,000 – just click on any one of the photographs below to join. Lots of our readers have already done so and they’re now doing their bit to help fund Celtic Youth Development that can deliver the stars of tomorrow and beyond. And you might even win a few bob too! And a special thank you to all The Celtic Star readers who have already signed up and are now supporting youth development to give us the Celtic Stars of the future…
