Bonnyloyal
Well-Known Member
STRANRAER have been saved from financial meltdown thanks to a £225,000 Scottish Cup windfall from their January clash at Ibrox.
But, the League One strugglers insist they are still not completely immune from the effects of the coronavirus crisis
Stranraer have already received their £175,000 share of gate receipts from Rangers and are awaiting further dividends from television and prize money.
With a number of lower league sides fearful of going to the wall over the next few months vice-chairman Shaun Niven admits his club are one of the lucky ones.
Niven said: “We were extremely fortunate in that we made a significant amount of money from our Scottish Cup tie at Ibrox in January.
“That has changed the dynamic for us and leaves us in a better position than most.
“We are one of the lucky ones yet we do not consider ourselves flush by any means.
“That money won’t last forever when there is zero revenue coming in.
“Yet, we appreciate there are a lot of clubs in a far more precarious position than us.
“Our wage bill is the smallest in the league so it is more manageable anyway.
“We will be able to keep paying all our staff until the end of their current contracts.
“All our playing staff are only contracted to mid-June.
“If everyone then leaves the club and there is no resumption date we will have to start from scratch again.
“However, In the grand scheme of things we are extremely lucky as there is a real worry there might not be some clubs when all this ends.”
Niven has also reassured fans that Stranraer, one of the best run clubs in the country, will also be able to survive relegation to League Two.
The Blues are currently eight points adrift at the foot of the table with a game in hand of second bottom Forfar.
Niven said: “There has been nothing communicated to the clubs that indicates any decision has been made about promotion and relegation
“Relegation wouldn’t kill us if they decided to keep positions as they are, but we wouldn’t just lie down and accept it.
"Just like Hearts, Partick and Brechin, who are in a similar position.
“There is still a belief that we can get ourselves out of trouble. Results were picking up before all this happened.
“We think we are good enough to get out of this. Six of our remaining nine fixtures are at home and we don’t have any of the full-time teams to play.”
But, the League One strugglers insist they are still not completely immune from the effects of the coronavirus crisis
Stranraer have already received their £175,000 share of gate receipts from Rangers and are awaiting further dividends from television and prize money.
With a number of lower league sides fearful of going to the wall over the next few months vice-chairman Shaun Niven admits his club are one of the lucky ones.
Niven said: “We were extremely fortunate in that we made a significant amount of money from our Scottish Cup tie at Ibrox in January.
“That has changed the dynamic for us and leaves us in a better position than most.
“We are one of the lucky ones yet we do not consider ourselves flush by any means.
“That money won’t last forever when there is zero revenue coming in.
“Yet, we appreciate there are a lot of clubs in a far more precarious position than us.
“Our wage bill is the smallest in the league so it is more manageable anyway.
“We will be able to keep paying all our staff until the end of their current contracts.
“All our playing staff are only contracted to mid-June.
“If everyone then leaves the club and there is no resumption date we will have to start from scratch again.
“However, In the grand scheme of things we are extremely lucky as there is a real worry there might not be some clubs when all this ends.”
Niven has also reassured fans that Stranraer, one of the best run clubs in the country, will also be able to survive relegation to League Two.
The Blues are currently eight points adrift at the foot of the table with a game in hand of second bottom Forfar.
Niven said: “There has been nothing communicated to the clubs that indicates any decision has been made about promotion and relegation
“Relegation wouldn’t kill us if they decided to keep positions as they are, but we wouldn’t just lie down and accept it.
"Just like Hearts, Partick and Brechin, who are in a similar position.
“There is still a belief that we can get ourselves out of trouble. Results were picking up before all this happened.
“We think we are good enough to get out of this. Six of our remaining nine fixtures are at home and we don’t have any of the full-time teams to play.”