The Albion Rovers board will meet to discuss the potential of bringing kick-off times forward this winter to combat the cost of living crisis.
The Scottish FA announced last week that clubs competing in the Scottish Cup this season will be permitted to move matches away from the traditional 3pm kick-off to limit the cost of using floodlights and heating during the winter months.
And it is understood the SPFL would also be open to league matches being moved, if both clubs are in agreement.
It could see matches kick-off at 12pm or 1pm to avoid the use of floodlights and save on heating costs.
Energy price hikes will hit Scotland’s smallest clubs the hardest this winter and League Two Rovers are among those considering bringing forward their matches.
Club secretary Colin Woodward has revealed officials will convene to discuss their options at the September board meeting later this month, but admits there are many things to be considered.
He said: “It is something the board are going to discuss.
“A decision hasn’t been made yet and it will depend on things like how far our opponents would be travelling as well, or hospitality where lunch could turn into breakfast.
“A lot of clubs could lose their afternoon hospitality, which is a good source of income for them, but they will perhaps need to balance out what they will miss out on with how much the floodlights are going to cost them.
“Once reality bites and the days get darker then I’m sure there will be games where people fancy an early kick-off.
“We are quite fortunate at the moment that we don’t need floodlights yet but we are the same for as everyone else at the moment, costs are spiralling.
“We are just trying to keep things at a minimum at the moment. Only put things on when we really have to, turn things down and do what we can to keep costs low.
“But no decision has been made on what we will do yet.”
Rovers enter the Scottish Cup at the second round stage, which is due to be played on the weekend of October 22/23, just over one week before daylight saving time ends in the UK on October 30.
Should they progress to round three, matches will be played on the weekend of November 26/27, which is when Monklands rivals Airdrieonians will enter.
A statement by the SFA read: “The Scottish FA have written to clubs participating in the Scottish Cup to reiterate that they have the option of scheduling earlier kick-off times for their fixtures in the competition this season.
“The Scottish FA Board is keen to helps clubs guard against some of the impact from the current cost-of-living crisis, with earlier kick-off times – to which both competing clubs must agree – potentially leading to reduced match day costs such as floodlighting and heating.
“Clubs participating in the first round would also have the option of streaming any non-televised Scottish Cup matches scheduled to kick off prior to the traditional blocked hours period of Saturday between 2.45pm-5.15pm, with discussions ongoing with broadcast partners about clubs streaming matches in later rounds.”
Scottish FA Chief Executive Ian Maxwell said: “We are cognisant that the effects of the current cost-of-living crisis are being felt by Scottish football clubs and we are committed to exploring methods that could help mitigate the effects of the crisis within Scottish football.
“This logical step to help reduce match day costs is just one avenue in which the Scottish FA will look to support clubs throughout this challenging period and we welcome further discussion on ways to help alleviate the increase in costs that could be incurred over the coming months.”
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