Costly chaos is all down to self interest in SPFL

SELF-INTEREST has left Scottish football on the brink.

The SPFL clubs had the chance to help each other get through the Covid-19 crisis but preferred to discard reconstruction like yesterday’s trash.

Yes, I know there were some half-cooked and even idiotic proposals but there should’ve been a way to put temporary change in place, so there was no relegation.

The SPFL board and chiefs also need to take their fair share of the blame from a messy episode that has become nothing more than a shambles since the 2019-20 season was brought to a close.

I don’t see how many from that group can walk away with much credit.

Yes, we were in unprecedented times but the way the leagues were called and the fall-out has left our game tarnished.

The clubs, however, are the SPFL and they are the ones who have led Scottish football into this sorry state of chaos and legal fights because they decided to protect what little they have.

Now it could come back to bite them if the SFA’s arbitration rules in favour of Hearts and Partick Thistle.

Instead of giving up a few grand in prize money for an increased 14-league Premiership, they could end up having to pay hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Where does that come from? Mainly, the new Sky deal. That slice of the pie might end up crumbs.

The suing pair are looking for £10million but they’re likely to accept just under half that.

The reality is that if the M8 alliance win the case, this could be more costly than the fallout from Covid-19.

The way Hearts, Thistle and Stranraer have been shunted down is absolutely shameless.

The gloves are now off and although Hearts and Thistle failed to get a win in the Court of Session, they will get a second chance in arbitration.

Dundee United, Raith and Cove are also being dragged through a legal battle as well.

The three lower league winners deserve their titles and promotions.

By all means go and sue the SPFL but why go after clubs who have done nothing wrong other than have success?

These three clubs have already spent £50,000 on legal bills and have claimed that arbitration could cost them in excess of £150k.

Cove and Raith are unlikely to be able to

If the M8 alliance win, it may be worse than fallout from Covid-19

afford that. Hearts and Thistle are also spending thousands.

This is all money that is being lost when it should be used to improve our product.

Clubs have already had to slash their budgets for next season and it might be even more savage if Hearts and Thistle get their way.

This could be worse than anything that happened after the collapse of the Setanta TV deal. It doesn’t bear thinking about.

And who will have to foot the bill?

The long- suffering fans who have to continually put their hand in their pocket.

Self-interest comes at a cost and this time the bill is too expensive.