Cash blow for promoted trio

DUNDEE UNITED, Raith and Cove fear they may have to scrap their legal defence against Hearts and Partick Thistle unless they receive financial assistance. The three clubs have already had to pay out around £50,000 between them to defend themselves in the Court of Session. That case has now been passed on the SFA for arbitration and the

three clubs have been warned the final bill could cost more than £250,000 if they were to lose or were ordered to cover their own legal costs.

Hearts and Thistle are arguing the trio should not be promoted, although they are entitled to be called champions as they sat top of their respective leagues when the game went into lockdown.

And while United, Raith and Cove are confident they’ll win when it comes before an independent SFA arbitration panel, the financial uncertainty is causing a major headache.

On top of that, if Hearts and Jags were to win their case they’d be entitled to compensation from the SPFL’s central pot, reducing every club’s income from the governing body.

It means Premiership new boys Dundee United might have to go on their own. The cost to Cove and Raith would be a large part of their annual turnover.

Raith already have their supporters to thank for crowdfunding and helping them through the lockdown and it could be an option again.

The three clubs have also been offered moral support from other clubs but it remains to be seen if they’d help financially.

They can’t get assistance from the SPFL because they are also being legally challenged by Hearts and Thistle over their relegation after the leagues were called on a pointsper-game standing.

An arbitration meeting with the SFA is due today and it could take a week or more for the case to start.

The arbitration could still be held without a defence although that would substantially strengthen the hand of Hearts and Thistle, as they fight to block the trio’s prospective promotions.

The initial legal papers claimed Hearts were looking for around £8million with Thistle seeking £2m.

Stranraer were relegated to League Two but because of the cost decided not to go with Partick and Hearts.