Roy MacGregor waiting for go ahead on Celtic test fixture

By John Reid

September 6, 2020

Ross County chairman Roy MacGregor is still waiting to hear from the Scottish government if a small crowd can attend Saturday’s Ross County-Celtic match in Dingwall, BBC Sport reports.

MacGregor is hoping to hear on Monday that the game will get the go ahead as a test case, and that Victoria Park is all set up for the occasion.

“We’re just waiting”

“Everything from our end is there to make it happen, so we’re just waiting for the final nod…hopefully, we will get the call on Monday. Just to have some fans in the ground will be a joy” he said, as quoted by BBC Sport.

The SPFL club chairman doesn’t expect to see any away fans at Dingwall this season, even if fans are permitted.

“I don’t think we’ll see any away fans or walk-ups” he opined.

Celtic taking on Ross County behind closed doors in July (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

It would certainly be a unique atmosphere at Victoria Park if the test gets the thumbs up from the government. However, a few hundred Ross County fans making noise will be much preferable to the silence and empty stands that the players are currently faced with.

Matches will feel more real with crowds

Having some fans in the stadium, even a small number, will make the game feel much more like a proper football match. Even more so at Victoria Park, which has a capacity of six and a half thousand.

Neil Lennon stands alongside the empty stands of Celtic Park (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The fans in attendance really could create an atmosphere. That is what football has been sadly lacking recently, for understandable reasons.

As MacGregor says though, it would be ‘a joy’ for football clubs to have fans attend games once more, even a small number.

Hopefully the Scottish government allow the test to go ahead. It would be such a bonus for the game in Scotland if fans could start to return to the game on a regular basis. It would be proof that football is on the way back, and hopefully some fans will soon be cheering the Hoops on from Celtic Park.

In other news, Chris Sutton wants to see Celtic make more signings in the transfer window.