Craig McKeown admits he’s relieved to no longer be involved in full-time football because of the uncertainty facing many as a result of the coronavirus crisis.
Already this summer clubs across Scotland have released scores of footballers as they look to save money.
Formartine United defender McKeown spent time in the full-time ranks with Dunfermline, Clyde and Dundee earlier in his career.
The 35-year-old surprised many in 2012 when he left Dens Park and joined Formartine in the Highland League.
Moving to part-time level and getting a career away from football isn’t something he’s regretted and McKeown knows players across the country will experience hardship with clubs unable to offer them contracts this summer.
He said: “It’s very difficult for managers trying to put squads together and when it comes to players are they getting offered another contract? If not will they get signed by someone else? There’s a lot of uncertainty.
“I count myself fortunate to no longer be in full-time football, I wouldn’t like to be involved in it in the current period.
“I’m still in contact with a lot of guys involved full-time and one of my best friends is an agent and you just need to look at the number of players being let go and it could be three or four months before they get work again.
“Every year people are lost to the football industry and everyone knows that, but this year it will probably have doubled or trebled because clubs, especially at full-time level, won’t have the same finances for wages.
“If you are considered a run of the mill, solid professional in the Championship or the Premiership and in your late 20s or early 30s then you’re not seen as having a resale value.
“You go out every week and do a good job for the team, yet clubs will be moving these guys on because in the current situation they’re seen as an expense rather than an asset.
“I wouldn’t like to be involved in that because there are a lot of guys who will be wondering where the next wage comes from.
“There will be guys drop out of football and it’s a shame, but unfortunately it’s the harsh reality of the situation.”
When football does resume at all levels McKeown says clubs operating with smaller squads may give young players chances they wouldn’t otherwise have got.
He added: “If there are guys with mortgages and kids who can’t afford to continue full-time it may give a chance for young players.
“If there are kids coming out of school at 16, 17 or 18 and staying at home with their parents on a couple of hundred pounds a week they’ll get opportunities they might not normally have had.
“Next season in the Premiership and the Championship teams will be running with tighter squads and for all of them you’ll probably have four or five teenagers so it could be the opportunity these guys are needing.
“That’s one positive, but it’s not good for a lot of more senior players and it’s something I’m pleased I’m not involved in.”
