Clubs want campaign to keep going
if they wanted to put the campaign on hold due to Covid fears.
But MailSport understands the majority of the clubs have already told the SFA they aren’ t interested in pausing the league and are happy to carry on as planned.
All Scottish football below the top two tiers has been suspended for three weeks and the Championship has been allowed to continue on the condition the players and staff are tested for Covid twice weekly.
Maxwell was keen to hear the views of the second tier clubs but we understand they have no intention of pressing the pause button.
Meanwhi le, Caley Thistle’s Scott Gardiner has hit out at the SFA for being ‘ incompetent’ and ‘ misrepresenting’ his club’s view on the matter.
Maxwell appears to have sent his email – which indicated one club was in favour of the suspension – after an interview in which Caley boss John Robertson questioned whether the football authorities were placing TV revenue and commercial interests above the safety of players and their families.
Gardiner is adamant stopping the campaign was never on the agenda as far as Inverness are concerned and claims it put more scrutiny on ICT, who last year came under fire for their stance on calling the season at the start of the pandemic.
He said: “We didn’t have any issue with the question being asked.
“But when the email was sent to us we were shocked. I was wondering what club had stated that they don’t want to play.
“Then I started getting texts and calls from other people asking if this was because of what John had opined on.
“It was just John’s opinion. Certainly, it wasn’t the club’s position and it wasn’t even John’s position, he was just ruminating during a press conference.
“What we take exception to is last year
our position was misrepresented and we got a lot of unwarranted abuse.
“What happened, by including that line, everything went crazy.
“My directors are super-principled people, who support the club tremendously. And the board take exception when they’re taking calls from fans of other clubs saying, ‘Why do Inverness want to stop the season?’
“Nothing could be further from the truth.
“That one line is unfair, it ’s unreasonable, it ’s misrepresentation, and it ’s incompetent – it shouldn’t be said.”
Speaking to the BBC, the Caley Thistle CEO added: “I’m saying 100 per cent our view always was to finish the season and that’s what we’re hoping we do, and we’re hoping we’re in the Premiership next term.”
Maxwell defended the SFA’s email and said it was all about making sure they are listening to clubs’ concerns.
He said: “Given the need for the clubs to undertake a considerable testing regime in order to continue, there was a strong view clubs in the Championship should be asked to conf irm or otherwise th e ir willingness to play on.
“It was predominantly to ensure those clubs and their staff did not feel that they have been thrown-in to a testing regime against their will.
“It was an opportunity to consult. Inevitably, tough decisions elicit a range of views on their implementation.
“Decisions – and, yes, missteps – will continue to be made as we navigate uncharted terrain.”