Scottish football is bracing itself for the full impact of coronavirus as up to a dozen clubs prepare to follow the lead of Hearts.
Frantic moves are being made behind the scenes to secure additional funding to prevent widespread redundancies among playing staff in the senior game. The SFA and SPFL have already distributed £1.5million in bailouts but much more is needed.
Unless additional funding can be found to shore up the game there is a genuine fear the majority of senior clubs will release scores of players and start all over again, most likely in September.
Hearts chief Ann Budge decided to cut wages by up to 50 per cent at Tynecastle earlier this week.
Her move brought to attention the controversial Article 12 in a standard playing contract, which effectively allows clubs to rip up deals if Scottish football is suspended.
It’s believed most Scottish club bosses were unaware of the clause, maybe even Hearts themselves, but now some chairmen are seeing it as a potential lifeline to safeguard their club’s future.
One chairman said: “If the football authorities can’t prop up the clubs still further financially then more and more clubs are likely to make their players redundant under Article 12.
“It’s a step no owner wishes to take but with no money coming in there are already up to a dozen clubs ready to follow the lead of Hearts in the next few weeks. Unless the finances can be underpinned then more clubs, including some of the major players, are likely to follow suit.”
