Reader TTS

SANDY CLARK AND GEORGE PATERSON HAVE COMMITTED TO THE CLUB FOR NEXT SEASON 07:36, 02 Jun 2025 Albion Rovers have confirmed that boss Sandy Clark and assistant George Paterson are taking a

pay cut to stay on for what they admit will be a “difficult” season. Financial cutbacks mean next season’s budget will be “severely restricted”, including cuts to the management team’s

salaries. But director Ben Kearney says that’s testament to how committed both are to the Lowland League club. In a lengthy address to the Cliftonhill club’s’ supporters, Kearney stated that

he estimates the club will be ‘right at the bottom of the pile’ when it comes to budgets in the fifth tier next season. He said: “We’re delighted that we’ve managed to get Sandy Clark and

George Paterson back on board for the new campaign – that’s massive for the football club as a whole. “They’ve clearly got the football club at heart, the amount they’ve put into the job has

been over and above. Article continues below “Both guys have taken a reduction in their remuneration, which shows how committed they are to the club. “How well we did towards the end of

last season speaks volumes not just for them as coaches, but as people, and the playing staff have to take massive credit as well. “To have so much uncertainty placed upon you as football

players and coaching staff, so much was going on at the club, so much was being said from outside, and within as well. “The way the whole football department handled themselves is

exemplary.” Kearney added: “The playing budget we’re going to have is going to severely restricted, compared to last season, and unfortunately that’s just the reality of being a team that

has dropped out of the SPFL and into the Lowland League. “It is basically an unfunded league. “We’re working really hard to change the club’s operating model, but that’s something that takes

time. “We’ve taken a decision that we feel is right for the club’s future to have a severely restricted budget, and that’s something that Sandy and George are on board with. “It’s going to

be a difficult season, I don’t think there’s any point denying that. “Without being privy to the other budgets of teams in the Lowland League, I imagine we would be right at the bottom of

the pile. Article continues below “We were going in a direction last season where we thought we could really do something, but the situation the club’s in financially, it just wouldn’t be

viable to keep anywhere near the budget we had last season.”