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Thread: CORONAVIRUS – JOINT RESPONSE GROUP UPDATE 28 April 2020

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    CORONAVIRUS – JOINT RESPONSE GROUP UPDATE 28 April 2020

    Scottish Football Restart sub-groups created to plan national game’s return

    The Joint Response Group has committed to beginning the initial planning phase for the resumption of football by creating new sub-groups to support the Scottish Football Restart.

    It is important to stress that this will be done in line with current Scottish Government and Chief Medical Officer advice – as updated in the First Minister’s publication of Looking Beyond Lockdown – and in cognisance of the current suspension of Scottish football until June 10.

    We also note the announcement today from Joe FitzPatrick, Minister for Public Health, Sport, and Wellbeing, regarding the creation of a virtual roundtable to discuss practicalities for the safe emergence from lockdown for sports bodies.

    The sub-groups will be integral to that process and are formed under the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA Board.

    Each group has been assigned a rolling two-week update period in which to undertake research in order of priorities outlined by the chair. The sub-groups will provide recommendations in key operational, logistical and commercial areas to ensure the safe and efficient return to Scottish football for all stakeholders, in line with the Scottish Government’s Framework for Decisions.

    The sub-groups are comprised of subject matter experts from across Scottish football are as follows:


    1. Medical and Player Welfare (co-chaired by Dr John MacLean and Duncan Fraser)

    Name Club / Organisation
    Mark Blount Queen of the South
    Eric Drysdale Club Secretary, Dundee
    Dr Jonny Gordon National Team Doctor, Scottish FA
    David Hamilton Scottish Government
    Graeme Jones Head of Performance, Scottish FA
    Nathan Ring Head of Medical, Hibernian
    Adam Stokes Head of Medical, Aberdeen
    Dr Gareth Strachan Club Doctor, Montrose
    Marcin Szostak Head of Medical, Dundee United
    Dr Mark Waller Club Doctor, Rangers
    Tim Williamson Head of Medical Services, Celtic


    Terms of reference:

    u Emerging from lockdown and Scottish Government interaction
    u Risk assessment
    u Returning to training from individual to group including biosecure environment
    u Returning to matches both behind closed doors and with spectators including biosecure environment
    u Player welfare including protocols for sick players and avoidance of injury
    u Testing

    2. Club and Stadium Operations (Co-chaired by Ian Maxwell/Mike Mulraney)

    Name Club / Organisation
    Gerry Britton Chief Executive, Partick Thistle
    Danny Bisland National Club GROW Manager, Scottish FA
    Lorna Cameron Interim Executive Officer, Scottish Women’s Football
    Derek Crossan Club Secretary, Linlithgow Rose
    Leeann Dempster Chief Executive, Hibernian
    Adrian Filby Commercial Director, Celtic
    Steven Gunn Director of Football Operations, Aberdeen
    David Hamilton Scottish Government
    Robin Howe Security & Operations Manager, Rangers
    Robbie MacGregor Chair of Football Safety Officers Association Scotland
    Laura McCallum Head of Football Admin & Legal Affairs, Dundee United
    Garry O’Hagan Football Operations Professional
    Police Scotland Represented by Campbell Crawford, Chief Inspector NFIP Scotland
    John Taylor Vice-Chairman, Clyde
    Fraser Wishart Chief Executive, PFA Scotland

    Terms of reference

    Club Operations

    u Daily operational logistics
    u Supporter/partner interaction
    u Stadium/pitch maintenance

    Matchday Operations

    u Stadium operations and set-up
    u Safety, policing, stewarding and first aid provision
    u Team related matters – access, egress, changing rooms, kit, technical areas,
    u Media and broadcast logistics
    u Pre-Match Operations and Communication


    3. Supporter Welfare (Co-chaired by Mike Mulraney/Ian Maxwell)

    Name Club / Organisation
    Stuart Brown Chairman, Stirling Albion
    Andrew Byron Director, Partick Thistle
    Adrian Filby Commercial Director, Celtic
    Gregor Hall Director, Queen’s Park
    David Hamilton Scottish Government
    Drew Main Director, Dunfermline Athletic
    Colin Millar Senior Operations Manager, Hibernian
    Alan Russell Chief Executive, Supporters Direct Scotland
    Tony Smith Club Secretary, Camelon Juniors
    Margaret Steven Director, Cowdenbeath

    Terms of reference:

    u Supporter journey
    u Access and egress at stadiums
    u Facilities within stadiums
    u First aid provision
    u Supporter and player interaction


    4. Broadcasting and Innovation (Chaired by Neil Doncaster)

    Name Club / Organisation
    James Bisgrove Commercial & Marketing Director, Rangers
    Dave Cormack Chairman, Aberdeen
    Ron Gordon Chairman, Hibernian
    David Hamilton Scottish Government
    Kerry Keenan Head of Marketing and Multimedia, Celtic
    Kieran Koszary Executive Director, Falkirk
    Gregg McEwan Head of Marketing & Commercial Operations, Kilmarnock
    Rod McKenzie SPFL Legal Counsel
    Chris Rawlings Commercial Director, Scottish FA
    Andrew Sinclair Head of Partnerships, SPFL
    Duncan Smillie Director, Partick Thistle

    Terms of reference:

    u Production
    u Transmission methods
    u Broadcast and content opportunities: online streaming (UK and overseas); associated payment platform(s)
    u Virtual season tickets and other innovations
    u Radio
    u Club channels/broadcast partner interaction
    u Blocked hours

    5. Regulation (Chair Calum Beattie)

    Name Club / Organisation
    Sandy Bryson Head of Registrations, Scottish FA
    Andrew Dickson Director of Finance and Administration, Rangers
    Laura Dougan Head of Football Governance, Scottish FA
    George Fraser Chairman, SLFL
    Steven Gunn Director of Football Operations, Aberdeen
    David Hamilton Scottish Government
    Rod Houston Secretary, SHFL
    Laura McCallum Head of Football Administration & Legal Affairs, Dundee United
    Fiona McIntyre Scottish Women’s Football
    Thomas McKeown Scottish Amateur FA
    Rod McKenzie SPFL Legal Counsel
    Michael Nicholson Director of Football and Legal Affairs, Celtic
    Gordon Thomson Club Secretary, Clyde

    Terms of Reference:

    u Player contracts (including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme)
    u FIFA Registration Periods
    u Any necessary updates to SPFL and Scottish FA Rules & Regulations as a result of FIFA and/or UEFA circulars
    u Government legislation – including the impact on football of any actual or potential lifting of current restrictions
    u Any potential amendments to the competition rules and regulations of the Scottish FA and SPFL; for example, in relation to possible modified competition formats for Season 2020/21
    u Any regulatory implications arising from proposals or recommendations from other sub-groups

    6. Grassroots (chaired by Thomas McKeown)

    Name Club / Organisation
    Tom Anderson Scottish Youth FA
    Lorna Cameron Scottish Women’s Football
    John Campbell Scottish Welfare FA
    Robert Craig Para-Football Scotland
    John Gold Scottish Schools FA
    Andrew Gould Head of Football Development, Scottish FA
    John Greenhorn East of Scotland League
    Colin Holden South of Scotland League
    Tom Johnston Scottish Junior FA


    Rod Petrie, Scottish FA President and Chair of the Joint Response Group: “I am pleased by the response among members to assist the Joint Response Group in planning for the safe and expedient return of Scottish football when it is deemed safe to do so by the government and medical experts. The First Minister published a framework to assist in the country’s recovery from COVID-19, including preparing for the transition from lockdown or any easing thereof and adjusting to a ‘new normal’. We will continue to adhere to the government advice but equally we have an obligation to undertake the necessary preparatory work to ensure the national game is ready to return at the appropriate time. We are also mindful of the crucial role football can play as the national sport during the recovery period and have noted the proposed return of the Premier League in England by the Department of Culture Media and Sport in England ‘to raise the spirit of the nation’. We look forward to the opportunity to discuss football’s timeframe in Scotland in early course as part of the Scottish Government’s virtual roundtable for sporting bodies announced today.”
    Last edited by ed_Scottishfitba1; 28-04-2020 at 04:25 PM.

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