Nairn County issue rallying cry as Highland League club vows to support community

The Highland League club has vowed to do everything it can to help the community

Nairn County director Ian Finlayson issued a statement confirming the club would be supporting the local community

Nairn County FC have issued a rallying cry as the Station Park side vowed to do everything in its power to support the community amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Numerous clubs throughout the UK, especially smaller local sides, are braced for the grim reality of reduced income as a result of the indefinite hiatus of the football season.

English side Barnet has already laid off several members of staff while other teams are urging fans to support them in other ways through club lotteries, raffles and buying merchandise.

At Nairn, the players and staff have signed up to give back to the local community. At the time of writing, a statement from club director Ian Finlayson had surpassed 500 retweets and was closing in on 2,000 likes.

In the statement, Finlayson wrote: “Bill Shankly once said that football is not a matter of life and death, it is more important than that.

“Mr Shankly was wrong. It is a trying time for the club, the town and the country as a whole. In this regard we are aware we have not just football but also wider responsibilities.

“In the past few days, the Committee has discussed how we wish to take things forward for the club during this time. Since forming our Committee several years ago, we have been conscious that while enjoying good days, we must always be aware that bad days may still come again.”

Nairn, founded in 1914, faced financial trouble in 2016 after long-term sponsors Narden pulled out, with the local community rallying to help keep the club going.

“The rainy days have come and we are ready for them. We can confirm today that wages will continue to be paid in full to all our players and staff and that we will continue to meet our due bills and costs,” Finlayson added.

“Now to our wider responsibilities. When we were in financial trouble several years ago, we asked the community for help and the community responded.

“We remember this and now it is our turn to repay this debt. In the coming days we will be in touch with local businesses to pay foeward what we can for the coming season so that they will have that cash now when it is most needed.

“[In the absence of football] we will devote our social media channels to advertising our local business sponsors and encouraging people to shop local and to consider making future bookings and buying vouchers now for local hotels, hostelries, pubs and restaurants and all others to get some much needed cashflow into local business.”

The club has also offered to assist anyone in need at weekends, be it “picking up shopping, getting your prescription to you or even just walking the dog”.

Finalyson concluded: “Nobody knows how long this virus will be with us. It could be a long haul, but we want you to know that your club is with you.

“You have supported us. Now it’s our turn to do the same for you.”