SAINTS ARE SAFE AT LAST
St Mirren’s top- flight status was secured yesterday after Premiership bosses agreed to call the season as it stood.
The decision, which led to Celtic being crowned champions and Hearts being relegated, was taken at a board meeting after all 12 clubs agreed at the end of last week that completing the campaign was unfeasible.
It was decided that average points per game played would be the best way to determine final standings, which cemented the Buddies in the ninth spot, above Ross County, Hamilton and the doomed Jambos.
The only change to the table from when football was halted in mid-March was St Johnstone leaping Hibs into the sixth spot.
SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster revealed the league can now pay out around £7million of prize money to cash-strapped clubs.
“The focus will now turn to how we get football up and running again safely as soon as possible,” he said.
“Nobody should be under any illusion as to how complicated and difficult a challenge it will be to return Scottish football to normality.”
The decision was taken by the SPFL board after a controversial April vote - backed by the majority of clubs - granted them the power to do so should they deem the 49 outstanding games unplayable.
Football at all levels in Scotland was suspended until at least June 10 and UEFA had asked associations to either declare their season or lay out their resumption plans by May 25.
SPFL cha i rman Murdoch MacLennan said the league chiefs were left with “no realistic option but to call” the season.
However, Hearts do hold slim hopes of a reprieve after chairwoman Ann Budge was given approval to work on a proposal for temporary league reconstruction, which would involve expanding the top flight.
The focus will now turn to how we get football up and running again safely again