Steven Gerrard has called upon Rangers and other top-flight clubs to provide financial assistance to ensure Betfred Cup fixtures are able to be fulfilled, as quoted by the Glasgow Times.
Some uncertainty is surrounding this year’s competition due to the disparity in testing protocols for top-flight and lower-league teams amid the global health crisis.
The SPFL have declared that lower-league sides will need to be tested prior to playing Premiership clubs in the competition or they will forfeit the tie.
However, many clubs lower down the league pyramid have been hit hard by the current crisis and may not have the funds to pay for the testing themselves.
Speaking prior to his side’s clash against Hibernian at the weekend, Gerrard suggested that Premiership clubs lend a helping hand.
“Everyone is desperate to get supporters back in the stadiums and closer to normality as quickly as we can,” he said, as quoted by the Glasgow Times. “But the priority has to be safety, a player’s health, so part-time teams or teams in the lower leagues who are not tested, that’s something that needs to be looked into seriously because it could lead to more problems.”
“I also think, and I don’t think the club will thank me for this, that the big clubs might need to show some support to the part-time teams or other teams lower down that are not in the same financial position, just so that we can continue to make sure that these competitions progress and finish and carry on.
“That’s the only way I can see things progressing the way we all want them to progress – if the top clubs or the ones who are higher up support the ones who are lower down.”
Rangers boss Steven Gerrard calls for big clubs to provide financial assistance – Verdict
Premiership clubs will need to pay for lower-league teams to undergo testing prior to facing their Colts teams in the Challenge Cup this season and it makes sense that the gesture would be extended to the Betfred Cup.
The Gers won’t be featuring in the competition until its latter stages and while some smaller clubs may be able to fund their own testing, if some can’t, the cup may soon descend into a farce.
After almost a decade without a major trophy, Rangers will be hoping they can finally get over the line in the League Cup this time around after being defeated 1-0 by Celtic in last season’s final.
