A new report into Scottish football clubs has shown the number in financial distress has risen to five. The Football Distress Survey, carried out by Begbies Traynor, has shown the number has grown by 67% from the same time last year. The survey is taken from the last data released for the period to October 31, 2024.
Three out of the five clubs who are in distress were in League One, which is similar to the situation in the English Football League where those who were in most distress were between League One and League Two. Ken Pattullo, who leads Begbies Traynor in Scotland and Northern Ireland, said: “We’re concerned that the levels of distress in Scottish clubs seem to be steadying at an unwelcome level, and the last year will be concerning for the coming season.
In England we’re seeing a concentration of distress in the lower two leagues, strengthening calls for a more equitable distribution of the big-ticket TV revenues enjoyed by the Premier League and the Championship. That’s likely to be more ammunition for boards in League One and League Two when they meet with the Government’s new Football Regulator. Club owners and boards in the EFL will have to resist the temptation to get carried away and gamble on chasing Wrexham up the leagues. That is a remarkable success story, and great news for the profile of the club and the game as a whole, but we now need the spotlight to fall on those smaller clubs that don’t have these resources. Smaller clubs are a vital part of the football ecosystem and also the communities where they are based, and many could be in trouble in 12 months time if there isn’t more support from those with the lion’s share of the revenues.
