THE chairman of Sauchie Juniors has warned the Clacks club won't survive without fans - as he pleaded with football bosses for financial support. 

Karl Rennie has joined calls for a handout to help teams in Scotland with supporters expected to be banned from stadiums until next year. 

The Reds, who have transformed Beechwood Park to make it Covid-19 safe, believe East of Scotland sides have been "forgotten about" by football chiefs during the pandemic. 

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Clubs in the top four divisions in Scotland received a £50,000 grant from businessman James Anderson earlier this year, but so far no one in the lower tiers has been given support. 

"I've said it before and I'll say it again, we can't survive without supporters," Rennie told Advertiser Sport. "The club is not sustainable without them and we won't have money coming in to pay our players without supporters. 

"It's different if you are part of the SPFL and get a £50k hand out but that stopped at our level and none of us saw it.

"It feels like we are just the forgotten division of this pyramid system and no one cares about us.

"Sauchie relies on the fans and we also rely on the bingo at Sauchie Hall, but the problem is that's not running now because we can't get in." 

Sauchie, who have called on the support of Clackmannanshire and Dunblane MSP Keith Brown, only pay their players when they play a match. 

Alloa and Hillfoots Advertiser: Sauchie have asked MSP Keith Brown for support Sauchie have asked MSP Keith Brown for support

However, Rennie is clear this will not be sustainable if they are told by league bosses to kick off without supporters next month. 

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"The club literally has no income apart from the donation pages and our sponsors, who we are continually grateful for backing the club," Rennie said. 

"It's not just the first team now and we have the academy and a team in the Junior league. There's the walking football and the kids stuff.

"It's not just the team we need to worry about but it's the full team and the full set-up we have worked hard to do."