Lower league clubs will be fine – Shaw

Kingston and St Andrew Football Association President Wayne Shaw says that football clubs in the lower leagues will be able to withstand the expected economic downturn from the coronavirus.

Shaw said that even though he foresees that sponsorships may be hard to come by as companies are forced to cut back because of the economic downturn, clubs in the Major and Super League divisions will survive because they are used to operating on tiny budgets.

"They will be back, even though the hierarchy of the clubs in the Major and Super Leagues are having it hard, as their players are looking to them for help," Shaw said. "But these clubs are used to functioning without a lot, so they will survive."

Cavalier FC technical director Rudolph Speid said that many local clubs, especially those in the lower leagues, could become extinct as local football is expected to feel the brunt of the contracted economy.

"Local clubs are run out of people's pockets and if they are not making enough money, then there will be none to run the club," Speid said. "There could be some fallout in the number of clubs like that in Jamaica after this crisis."