Aberdeen chief warns of hard times for cash-strapped football clubs

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Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack has warned that football clubs face an "unsustainable" future trying to pay wages with no income during the coronavirus pandemic.

Football in Scotland and across Britain has been indefinitely suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic alongside a raft of other strict measures.

The temporary restrictions could have long-lasting consequences for clubs, who do not know when they will play again.

"What we do know is that we are facing a collapse of income that is going to be almost impossible to sustain for a prolonged period," Cormack said in a detailed statement on the problems faced by Aberdeen and many other clubs.

The Dons are not in as dire a position as other clubs but will still struggle to meet their commitments.

"Three weeks ago we were in a healthy financial position -- free of external debt, with £1.5million ($1.7 million) in the bank," added Cormack.

"Our monthly running costs are about £1.2 million and it's only prudent to assume that, realistically, there will be no football until July perhaps, at the earliest.

"During this period, we are therefore facing £5 million in outgoings with no expected income. No matches are planned and we have no idea when a new season starts, never mind the current season ending, and it is highly unlikely there will be any player sales in the summer."

Cormack said the situation was "unsustainable".

"No club, whatever their size, scale or level of investment, can withstand a total lack of income over a period of anything between three to six months," he added.

Another Scottish Premiership side, Hearts, have asked all full-time employees to take a 50 percent pay cut from April.

The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) forwarded an immediate £1.5 million of funding last week to help clubs and academies hit by the lack of cash flow.