ROSS COUNTY are hopeful that they will be able to host 500 supporters as part of the test events to allow the return to football for supporters. The Highland side will host Neil Lennon’s side next Saturday at 3pm but unlike the rest of the fixtures this season, there may be supporters in the stadium.

Roy MacGregor is confident that they can host supporters in one of the trial fixtures to see if a safe return to football is viable. Although, as reported by the Press and Journal, MacGregor believes that they may only be able to accommodate 1500 supporters at each home matches this season.

“We are trying to make sure we can get the maximum into the ground.

“We tried to put families and neighbours together who are in a bubble, so we could get a few more in.

“We worked out that we could maybe get 1,500 season ticket holders in, if the bubbles worked out right.

“It means we are going to get 25 percent of the capacity into the ground, so we are preparing that.

“Depending on how many the government say, we will need to have some sort of ballot system for rationing.”

1st December 2019; Global Energy Stadium, Dingwall, Highland, Scotland; Scottish Premiership Football, Ross County versus Celtic;

MacGregor admitted that even a small capacity would give some kind of atmosphere that would make the game a bit less surreal for the players and those watching at home.

“Personally I have found it challenging that there has been no atmosphere though. It’s a bit surreal.

“No matter how many they let into the ground, even if we got 700 back into the ground I think it will be better.

“At least there would be some sort of atmosphere.”

Celtic supporters will be able to watch the game on a pay-per-view service next weekend, which will cost £15. Whilst this is nowhere near the same as going to the game itself, it gives supporters the opportunity to watch a Saturday 3pm kick-off. MacGregor forecasts that the game will pull in a sizeable viewing figure for the Higlanders, which will result in valuable revenue.

“I would expect we will have a five-figure audience for the Celtic game, which is based on Celtic viewing figures.

“There will be an excess of 10,000 people watching it on pay per view at a cost of £15.

“The home team keeps the gate, less the cost of the production which they provide.

“We have tried to put a joint show on, where there will be a balanced view for the Celtic fans that can’t make it to the game.”

Also on The Celtic Star