English Premier League club Burnley has announced they could lose £50m by August as Rangers and clubs across Europe face up to the financial implications of a continent-wide footballing shutdown.
Only little Belarus is left kicking a baw as clubs from the top to the bottom of the footballing pyramid – from Barcelona to Burton Albion – begin to feel the pinch.
The fact that one of England’s top 20 clubs – in a division famed for gluttonous riches – is teetering as a result of the shutdown is an example of the scale of issues facing every club, including Rangers.
The Ibrox club has been decidedly quiet on the measures they are taking amid the domestic league shutdown. And not without good reason.
Dave King’s parting comments on planned Ibrox investment being put on hold was scoured over by the press, the events of 2012 still very much in the minds of journalists and fans.
Despite numerous voices moving quickly to reassure supporters necessary funding outlined in the annual reports was “well advanced”, even the most ardent will admit something’s got to give.
But by playing it all out publicly it brings a massive amount of negative press – expected given the club’s recent history – and it’s wise for Rangers to manage anything in-house at present.
Even supposedly cash-rich Celtic have put their non-playing staff on furlough to take advantage of a special government scheme – and that didn’t bring much good press either.
Burnley’s comments and pleas amid their own financial insecurity are a reminder that all clubs – no matter their standing, income or status – will feel the financial strain of the next few months.
The likes of Dave King and Douglas Park et al have managed in extraordinary circumstances in the past – they are well used to dealing with a crisis by now.
