MORE than 100 players currently earning a living in the SPL will be out of a job this summer.

That is the grim forecast today from one club chairman who believes that Scotland's top flight faces a perilous future as it struggles to cope with the global credit crunch.

Hamilton Accies supremo Ronnie MacDonald is predicting that most SPL clubs will be forced to let go between eight and 10 players as they try to battle the recession.

MacDonald revealed his fears in the wake of a survey this week which revealed that more than half of Scotland's clubs plan to cut wages and numbers at the end of the season.

The survey, which polled all 42 chairmen or chief executives involved in the SPL and SFL, discovered that 81% of clubs have already had their income affected by the economic situation.

MacDonald revealed: "I am not under any illusions. It is going to be difficult to keep the same level of players simply because we do not expect season-ticket money or sponsorship income to remain the same.

"If the SPL follows through with its proposal to scrap the reserve league, then squads will be reduced. I would think each club would be looking to shed at least eight or nine players, which adds up more than 100 across the top division.

"There will also be pressure for clubs to address players' wages. However, I don't think that will affect top-level players, nor the younger ones.

"It will be the players in the middle range or earnings, squad players, who will be most vulnerable.

"I think that, for football in general, things are about to get very serious, but for Scotland, where the revenue streams are smaller, I think there a lot of clubs in real financial danger simply because of the levels of debt they have built up over the years."

The majority of Scotland's 42 professional club chairmen told the BBC survey they fear the credit crunch will inevitably lead to a fall in attendances, falling incomes and the need to slash wages.