Self-interest in Scottish game drives Pressley to the brink of despair

FORMER Hearts captain Steven Pressley has criticised a lack of compassion and leadership in Scottish football as the Edinburgh club battle to save themselves from premature relegation.

Hearts were consigned to the drop, four points adrift with eight games left, when the Scottish Professional Football League board ruled on Monday that the Premiership season could not be completed amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Par ti c k Thistl e and Stranraer are also facing relegation lower down the league with the former having been just two points adrift with one game in hand in the Championship.

Pressley said: “When you look at the last couple of months in society, when there have been so many acts of selflessness, that has been missing from the Scottish game. There has been only self-interest at heart.

“We are seeing front-line workers sacrificing their own lives to save people and Scottish football stinks of self-interest.

“The relegation of Hearts is absolutely extreme. The truth is our clubs, like all businesses, have suffered extremely through these difficult periods, and to almost rub salt in their wounds by relegating them is something I just can’t believe.

“We have shown such a lack of compassion within our clubs and such a lack of leadership within the SPFL to allow this to happen. It’s beyond me.

“If they show some leadership and governance they can actually save the situation.”

Hearts owner Ann Budge has threatened legal action if her attempts to revive league reconstruction proposals do not receive enough backing. Premiership clubs had previously appeared to scupper hopes of a solution.

Former Hearts captain Steven Pressley.