Queen of the South finances under 'severe pressure'

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Palmerston Park
Image caption,

Queen of the South have not had a home league game at Palmerston Park since mid November

Winter match postponements have put Queen of the South football club's finances under "severe pressure".

Chairman David Rae said the Scottish first division side had lost a significant amount of money, with just one home fixture since November.

He said call-offs during the festive season had hit the club hard at a time when attendances traditionally rose.

Concerned fans have organised a meeting to discuss ways of generating financial support for the Dumfries side.

Clubs throughout Scotland have seen a string of matches postponed due to particularly severe weather conditions.

However, Mr Rae said his side had been particularly badly hit, with just one home game since 13 November.

That was a Scottish Cup tie with Brechin City, which saw gate receipts split with the visiting club.

A total of five home league matches have been lost to the weather and the next one is not due until 1 February, against Ross County.

"We have had six months of the season but out of that we have only played six home league games," said Mr Rae.

"It means we have got one-third of the season to go but two-thirds of our league games left to play.

"It is putting the club under severe pressure because you have got no football money coming in."

'Big money'

He said December had been a particularly bad month for the club with the loss of home games against Stirling, Morton and Dundee.

"It cost us an awful lot of money," he said.

"And with hospitality, we are losing big money on that as well."

He told BBC Scotland news website that he remained confident the club would avoid any possibility of administration.

However, he admitted it was possible they might have to go part-time and urged fans to turn out in large numbers to the next home game and back efforts to fundraise for the club.

A group of concerned supporters has started a Save Our South campaign on Facebook and Twitter.

They have also arranged a meeting at the Locharbriggs Community Centre for early next month.

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