When the Highland League will resume is something that’s up in the air – but Keith manager Dean Donaldson hopes they can continue to improve when next season eventually comes around.
Under his management, the Maroons have finished 15th, 13th and then ninth this season.
When football does restart, the quest will be to try to improve again, and adding to the Kynoch Park squad may help with that aim.
However, Donaldson isn’t banking on too many new additions to the Keith ranks.
He said: “I’ve been keeping an eye on players getting released from SPFL clubs and other players that might become available.
“But at the same time – in two-and-a-half years – I’ve only spent £2,000 on players.
“The club hasn’t got any money, I’ve been told I might get a small sum for next season, but we’ll have to see how things go after this shutdown.
“If the club can give me funds it would be magic, but it’s difficult to know what will happen because we don’t even know when we’ll be restarting.
“I’ve been working on a shoestring budget and I knew that when I took the Keith job and it’s something we’ve had to deal with.
“Most clubs say they don’t have money for players, but they seem to manage to find it from somewhere, but we just don’t have it and that’s the bottom line.
“If we really want a player it takes plenty of discussion. Josh Bolton last season is the only player I’ve paid money for and that was a tough ask, but my hunger for Keith to continue to improve and do well is massive.”
A Highland League restart seems some way off yet, with fans coming through the turnstiles and matchday hospitality vital income sources for clubs.
Donaldson added: “Realistically, all the clubs really need fans coming through the gate and to be able to host corporate hospitality.
“If you can’t have that then it’s hard to see how clubs could survive if we were playing games.
“At Keith just about every home game last season we had sold out hospitality, it was of great importance to us.”
While retaining his passion and enthusiasm for football, lockdown has enabled Donaldson to spent more time with his family, having been furloughed from his job as a marine surveyor.
As well as managing Keith, Donaldson also coaches Banks o’ Dee Albion’s 2008 team.
He said: “Lockdown and everything has reaffirmed my love for my family because of the time I’ve spent with them. In normal times I spend a lot of time away from them with my job and my football work, so I’ve really enjoyed spending time with my family.
“Usually I’ve been working 16-hour days, so I don’t see too much of my family. The last few months have showed things don’t always need to be 100mph.”
