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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Andy McGilvray

Airdrie boss Ian Murray says Coronavirus could hit clubs hard

Airdrie boss Ian Murray says some Scottish clubs could find it hard to recover from playing games behind closed doors due to the Coronavirus threat, but health has to come first.

The former Hibs and Rangers defender says he's concerned about spread of the virus and that it affects all walks of life, not just football.

But he says there could be implications over either playing games behind closed doors or ending the season now as it stands.

Murray said: "Of course I'm concerned about it, and we're the same as any other club, in that we have guidelines on hand shakes and washing hands and things like that, but nothing too general. We'll just wait and see.

"I don't know what the ins and outs would be of holding games behind closed doors, but financially it would hurt clubs at every level, not just ours.

"From a sporting perspective we want to finish the season, of course we do, but we understand the situation.

Airdrie could be one of many clubs told to play games behind closed doors (John Steven)

"Everyone is involved and under the same situation, and it's not just sporting events - everybody is affected.

"Playing games behind closed doors will hit quite hard, and some clubs will find it very hard to recover, while others might be better prepared.

"For us, we would be disappointed to have to do that, but you have to make the choice - it's not entirely fair on players or supporters to put them into that situation.

"But at the same time they've paid for season tickets, hospitality would stop, and there would be a lot of complications with regards to things like sponsorship.

"We will comply with the guidelines until we're told something different, and until then there's not a lot we can do.

"We just want it sorted so that we know what we're doing, and hopefully nobody here gets it."

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