It could be 2021 before Dumbarton are back in action, with plans mooted to mothball the start of the new season in League One and Two.
SFA chief Ian Maxwell said last week that the governing body is planning for the game to return in August — albeit behind closed doors as it has done in Germany with the Bundesliga.
However with lower - league clubs reliant on gate money, and the cost of testing all those in a matchday squad estimated to be around £4500 every week, part-time clubs would face an impossible financial challenge to overcome.
That has led to talks of a shortened 18-game season — starting in January — for leagues outwith the Premiership and Championship, with second-tier sides including Queen of the South arguing that they wouldn’t be able run the club without gate income and calling for the action to continue to be put on hold until fans are allowed into stadiums.
The news came as Dumbarton met a crowdfunding target of £25,000 to overcome challenges presented by the pandemic. And Sons vice-chairman Colin Hosie saluted supporters for their efforts.
He said: “Our fans have been amazing, and we cannot express our gratitude enough.
“We are still operating on a month-by-month basis. We will be unrolling more income generating ideas over the coming weeks.
“It is still a precarious time for ourselves and many other clubs, but we are managing – thanks to the goodwill and support of all involved."
