Tynecastle and Easter Road in September? SPFL crowd hope for new season from Jason Leitch

National clinical director Jason Leitch has given hope crowds could begin to be seen at Scottish football grounds next season – after a question from Aberdeen chief executive Dave Cormack on national radio.
By David Oliver
Published 30th Jan 2021, 14:39 BST
Updated 30th Jan 2021, 15:32 BST
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Like all but a handful of Scottish games since March last year, Hearts and Hibs have played out this season’s campaign in front of empty stands.

Asked by the Pittodrie supremo on the thorny subject of crowds – a subject the Reds have been vociferous on throughout the season – Professor Leitch urged caution with all but the top two tier’s of mens’ football in abeyance since the start of January but said a return could happen in the early part of next season.

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He said: “Crowds are much less predictable. I would hope by September the whole country will be vaccinated - 9m doses of vaccine, that's huge.

Away support during the Ladbrokes Premiership match between Aberdeen and Hibernian at Pittodrie Stadium on March 07, 2020. (Photo by Paul Devlin / SNS Group)Away support during the Ladbrokes Premiership match between Aberdeen and Hibernian at Pittodrie Stadium on March 07, 2020. (Photo by Paul Devlin / SNS Group)
Away support during the Ladbrokes Premiership match between Aberdeen and Hibernian at Pittodrie Stadium on March 07, 2020. (Photo by Paul Devlin / SNS Group)

"It's a massive logistical exercise, and then we will have to see what the virus does. We will have to see if we have managed to not import the virus again with travel restrictions. People are going to have to pay some cost to get more freedom – there are crowds at the Australian Open tennis this week because they have paid a price of international travel to get domestic freedom.

"If we get all of that right as a nation, that's not just the government, it's also all the people, then yes, I think there could be crowds of some description in September."

Clubs in the Highlands were permitted socially distant spectators as part of the area’s Tier One restriction level late last year, however no crowds are currently permitted with the Scottish mainland currently placed in Tier Four.

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Hibs have not played in public since a trip to Pittodrie on March 7 last year, Hearts’ last game in front of fans was four days later in paisley against St Mirren, before the league shutdown.

National Clinical Director of the Scottish Government Jason Leitch says crowds could be back in September - if conditions are right (Photo by Ross Parker / SNS Group/SRU)National Clinical Director of the Scottish Government Jason Leitch says crowds could be back in September - if conditions are right (Photo by Ross Parker / SNS Group/SRU)
National Clinical Director of the Scottish Government Jason Leitch says crowds could be back in September - if conditions are right (Photo by Ross Parker / SNS Group/SRU)

Aberdeen have frequently called for crowds to be allowed back to games, and were one of two early season test cases to trial the return of crowds to SPFL games, however Scottish football fans support their teams from home via online video streams.

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Related topics:Jason LeitchDave CormackTynecastleSPFLPeoplePittodrieAberdeen