Edinburgh City chief hails 'unbelievable' crowdfunder response as Hearts and Hibs fans play their part

City are just one of many clubs expecting serious financial struggles during the season’s hiatus

Edinburgh City chairman Jim Brown has hailed the "unbelievable" response to the club's crowdfunder as they look to stave off financial ruin amid the coronavirus crisis.

The capital side announced they'd set up a Just Giving page on Friday. In just two days they've received over £3,150 as they seek to continue paying salaries and overheads without any matchday income coming in.

Clubs across Scotland are already feeling the pinch after the Scottish football season was suspended indefinitely in order to contain the spread of the deadly illness.

Edinburgh City chairman Jim Brown.

Brown just wants to see his team survive and come out of the other side of this unprecedented situation still in tact. Donations from supporters creates real optimism that it can happen.

"We've just been blown away by the amount of people donating to it. We've had supporters who've been very generous with donations. We've had strangers donating as well. It's just been unbelievable," he told the Evening News.

"The youth section, the 2009s age group, have donated £500. And I've just been told this morning that one of the other teams have donated £1,000 that they had from their fundraisers. Because they can't play they're not using the money for anything, so they're going to give it to the first team, which is just incredible.

"We've had ex-directors and ex-chairman donating four-figure sums to help us a long.

"It's been terrific the way the Edinburgh City family has come together. Supporters, the youth section, former directors, officials, everybody that's donated, it's just been great."

City have, in the past, looked for ways in which to try and attract Hearts and Hibs supporters through the gates at Ainslie Park as they seek to present themselves as a potential second-team for the majority of Edinburgh football fans.

Such an affinity could be vital to their survival with followers of the Premiership giants already offering their support.

"There was one donation online that came from a Hibs supporter," Brown continued. "There was another, I'm not sure whether she was a Hibs supporter or not, but she donated a fiver and wrote something along the lines of 'happy to help a local club and if every Hearts and Hibs supporter could donate a fiver then you'd be out of trouble.'"

Even at the top of the game there has been major concerns, with Hearts announcing last week they were looking for all players and staff to take a 50 per cent wage cut.

City may not be operating on the same scale as their Edinburgh neighbours, but the lack of income still makes it a hugely concerning time for everyone involved at the club.

"The £1.5 million from the SFA that was given to the clubs, our share was £4,000,” added Brown.

"It's an advance, so it's coming off next year's budget. The £1.5 million was spread across all clubs with a license, so that includes Junior clubs, Highland clubs, the East of Scotland leagues, they all get a share of it as well.

"The next league payment is due in April, which last year I think was £1,350. Between now and whenever the prize money is decided, we've got an income of £5,350.

"We would've been looking at at least ten times that number if the season had carried on as normal.

"We're looking into the government's 80 per cent fund, but we don't think it'll apply to us as most of our players have another job and it goes on their first job.

"All we can really do is take it day by day, as things happen or things change we just need to deal with it.

"We were meant to have our brunch today which would've brought in another £10,000 but that's obviously been cancelled.

"If there's anybody that was going to go to the brunch would like to donate their ticket money then they can head over to the Just Giving page," he said laughing, but only half-joking.

Those wishing to donate to Edinburgh City can find their Just Giving page here.