Aberdeen fans have backed the club's plans to switch their UEFA Cup tie with Hertha Berlin to 5pm on Tuesday, September 17 as long as the cash is spent on keeping their talented young players.
As expected, the Pittodrie club have brought the game forward by more than 48 hours after being guaranteed a £300,000 pay day for live coverage of the clash by German television.
That means most fans will have to take time off work to get to the ground to see the team take part in what will be their 100th tie in Europe.
Alan Duncan, vice chairman of the Association of AFC Supporters clubs, realises that his members must live with the fact that their needs are of secondary importance to a club desperate for any money they can raise.
But he insists the decision to sell out to television will be much easier to accept if his members were confident the deal will help secure new contracts for the likes of Phil McGuire and Darren Young.
He said: 'We are under no illusions why this has been done as the club are in a severe financial predicament at the moment and they simply cannot afford to turn down this sort of money.
'I think it is unfortunate because a lot of people will have to take time off from their work to get to Pittodrie for what should be a big glamour game for the team.
'It will certainly be an inconvenience for many but it is a lot of money and we would certainly feel better if it is used to keep some of our talented youngsters, who are out of contract next summer.'
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