Peterhead are operating with a skeleton non-playing staff on reduced hours as the club tries to avoid financial problems due to the coronavirus pandemic.
With football shutdown until the end of April at least the Blue Toon’s income streams have been hit by a lack of games as well as functions held at Balmoor Stadium being cancelled.
Cafes, bars and restaurants being ordered to close will further impact the Buchan outfit with a core of six staff, including general manager Martin Johnston, running the remaining facilities on reduced hours.
Over 30 ad-hoc part-time staff who work on matchdays and at functions have been placed on standby.
Johnston said: “There’s a core of six staff left to operate our facilities seven days a week.
“This is to be reviewed on a day to day and week to week basis.
“These staff who normally work 40 plus hours a week have had their hours cut to 20 hours a week maximum.
“We’ve got 34 casual part-time staff who are on standby. This was a massive decision that the club had no option but to take.
“It’s been upsetting, there was a lot of emotion and we’ve all shed a good few tears during this difficult time.
“It’s not easy having to tell people that we only have half the work for them.
“To achieve what we’re trying to do we’re going to be stretched to the extreme. We’ve all got bills to pay and families and the complication of kids being off school now as well.
“We cannot underestimate the severity of the situation. As a club we’re at a point where you have to forget about trophies, championship flags and relegation, people’s health is of premium importance and that’s the priority.
“We have to make sure we can achieve that whilst also still having Peterhead Football Club when we come out the other side of this.
“Nobody has been shown in the door which is important because there are other businesses that are shutting their doors, we want our staff to be safe and the club to come through this.
“This is a family here and everybody is hurting. It’s a difficult and emotional time, but we believe we will get through this.
“I can’t thank the core stuff enough for sitting down and thrashing out the way forward. Everyone has been worried and it was a difficult meeting to have.”
