The impact of coronavirus on Annan and the surrounding communities has prompted the town's football team to change its approach to sponsorship for the coming season.

Annan Athletic FC, which in normal times would at this point in the season be looking for new sponsors for next season, has decided not to go ahead with the usual sponsorship draw.

Recognising that the coronavirus outbreak has caused significant disruption to most of the businesses in Annan and the surrounding area, the club has decided that it would not be appropriate to seek new sponsorships for the 2020/21 season.

Instead, the club will be supporting three good causes Annan Athletic has experience of working with, alongside its own charitable foundation, the Black and Gold Foundation.

Club chairman Philip Jones explained: "Due to these very exceptional times, we will not be canvassing for local businesses to enter the draw by way of a cash payment.

"As a community orientated club, we recognise that local based businesses are really struggling and to operate the sponsorship draw in the usual way would not be the right thing to do."

The three charities that the club will support are Back Onside, an independent UK mental health charity, SSAFA The Armed Forces Charity, and NHS Dumfries and Galloway.

Back Onside is committed to tackling mental health illness, and works with both young people and adults who face mental health challenges due to social exclusion, disability or challenging life circumstances.

SSAFA The Armed Forces Charity supports serving and former members of the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Marines and their families, regardless of their length of service.

The NHS Dumfries and Galloway provides healthcare across the county of Dumfries and Galloway.

These three good causes will be placed on Annan Athletic's home and away kit for the coming season.

Mr Jones is also leading an online fundraising campaign to support these four good causes, which hopes to raise £40,000 to be split equally between them.

This crowdfunding page can be found on the GoFundMe website.

In a statement on the fundraising webpage, the club wrote: "These groups are working hard to support a wide range of individuals and groups in these times of stress and uncertainty.

"We at Annan Athletic believe that we should show our support for them and hopefully raise some funds to help even more people in the community.

"Annan Athletic will be proud to wear their logos on our shirts for the coming year."