THE gloomiest news of the week was the sudden folding of FA Women's Super League club Notts County on Friday. Scotland midfielder Leanne Crichton was among the players given the devastating news just minutes before it was made public.
The timing made an already bad situation worse, coming as it did only 48 hours before Notts County were due to play Arsenal in today's opening Spring Series game - and after the transfer window had closed.
The entire situation was mishandled by owner Alan Hardy, who bought the parent club in December. If reports of expenditure for the women's team vastly exceeding income are to be believed, the baffling question is why Hardy waited until the eve of the new season before making what must have been the only logical financial decision.
Instead, new players were recruited and existing contracts renewed even as HMRC closed in on monies owed by the previous owner.
Hardy didn't even tell the players and coaching staff the bad news in person, and it is understood they have not been offered any redundancy pay beyond this month's wages. For those who were in club accommodation as part of their deals, the description of “jobless and homeless” is literally true.
The Professional Footballers' Association are on the case, and reports suggest the FA have agreed to give dispensation for the Notts County players, including four of England's Euro 2017 squad, to find other WSL1 clubs. That will not be easy, as most have committed their budgets for the Spring Series.
The priority for Crichton is to keep herself match fit ahead of the Euros, so it will be no surprise if the 29-year-old returns to Scottish football this week. She joined Notts County from Glasgow City at the start of 2015.
The midfielder thought long and hard before leaving not just Scotland's most successful side, but a good day job in Glasgow. She still has a mortgage to pay on her home in the city.
A return to Scotland would almost certainly mean short term financial pain, but if there is any consolation from this dismal episode it is that a new, full, winter season starts in England after the Euros. Crichton could target a return to the WSL then, or take a new footballing or life direction.
SHELLEY Kerr will have the opportunity to test her negotiating skills on Tuesday when she represents the Scottish FA at the qualifying draw for the 2019 World Cup.
Scotland are among the second seeds for a tournament which will be the first with Kerr as head coach. Germany, England, Norway, Sweden and fast-improving Spain are the obvious Pot 1 teams to avoid, which leaves Switzerland and Italy as the favoured options.
Only the seven group winners are guaranteed to join hosts France. The best four runners-up will proceed to a play-off, but only one will go through to the finals.
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