SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster today stressed the governing body would work with UEFA in an attempt to resolve the "complicated" predicament in the Ladbrokes Premiership.
European football's governing body has warned its 55 member associations that their leading clubs may be banned from the Champions League and Europa League if they abandon their top flight seasons due to the coronavirus crisis.
The 42 SPFL clubs are set to vote on resolutions to terminate the 2019/20 season in the Championship, League One and League Two - but only to postpone the Premiership.
Final league placings will be determined on a points per game basis based on league matches played to date - with Dundee United, Raith Rovers and Cove Rangers being promoted and Partick Thistle and Stranraer being relegated.
A lengthy statement stated that the Premiership would be decided in the same way if top flight matches are unable to be played in the summer - meaning that Celtic would be crowned champions.
But the statement mentioned that league reconstruction ahead of the 2020/21 campaign was a possibility, which would suggest that Hearts, who are four points adrift at the bottom of the Premiership, could be spared from the drop.
Doncaster stressed the SPFL would work with UEFA in an attempt to resolve the issues they face in the Premiership moving forward.
He said: “As a board, we have consulted extensively with clubs in all four divisions since football was suspended on March 13 and have taken expert legal and commercial advice.
“Now is the right time to act. Very regrettably, we must face the reality that it’s simply not possible for the remaining Ladbrokes Championship, League 1 and League 2 fixtures to remain postponed without causing significant further financial harm to clubs in those divisions. Further, many of our clubs are experiencing very challenging organisational and financial circumstances.
“Everyone in our game, and in the country generally, is wrestling with the devastating impact of Covid-19. We all know there are no easy answers or simple solutions, but the board’s recommended proposal will give us a far greater degree of certainty, minimise the harm to the game overall, and enable us make end-of-season fee payments now to Ladbrokes Championship, League 1 and League 2 clubs."
He added: “The position for the Ladbrokes Premiership remains particularly complicated. Everyone is aware of UEFA’s desire for the family of European football to work together to resolve the issues that confront us all. We are keen to work with UEFA and remain in discussion with them over the situation in Scotland.
“The quicker we reach a final position the better, but there is no doubt this is the most complicated and challenging situation our game has faced in living memory.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel