The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Clubs still negotiating on future of Championship
DUNFERMLINE: Pars chairman insists wide range of options are being discussed
Dunfermline chairman Ross Mcarthur insists Championship clubs are still at the negotiating table as they bid to thrash out the make-up of next season.
The second-tier outfits have been discussing a range of options as they bid to navigate a path through the coronavirus crisis and the financial fallout from the global health emergency.
The Pars chief admits all clubs are keen to play as many games as possible next term, with discussions having taken place around the possibility of staging just 18 matches, as well as 27.
But, with a decision expected imminently on the reconstruction proposals put together by Hearts and Rangers, Mcarthur claims it is premature to say definitively what format the division will take after the summer.
It has been suggested the league will start on October 17 and feature 29 games – nine fewer than usual.
But Mcarthur is adamant the details have still to be thrashed out.
He said: “We’re trying to predict the unpredictable with the virus. If you just look over the weekend with the figures coming from the government, then all of a sudden our perspective changes a wee bit.
“So, we’re looking at 18 games, looking at 27, looking at different things like a split as well. We need to try to get as many games in but it’s timing it, based on what you know now in June for months down the line.
“It’s really more a talking shop at the moment, to determine what’s feasible and what’s not feasible, and also what’s viable for clubs in the Championship.
“If you look at the cost of testing and when we’ll be back closer to a full crowd in the stadium and fitting in cup competitions, you’re trying to time things with those issues as well. It’s not easy.
“A decision really has to be made in the next couple of weeks for the Championship – and if there’s any mileage in reconstruction that has to happen in the next seven days, anyway.
“It’s important that we all get together and try to get a consensus among ourselves in the Championship and then, being on the SPFL board, I’m speaking to the board to get them to understand we need to come up with something that will be viable for all the teams to compete in.
“I don’t know what League One and League Two are doing yet. There’s a lot of talk of different things and they’ll need to try to see what’s best for them.
“We’re just trying to put together something that’s best for the Championship clubs.
“Hopefully over the next week we’ll have a better idea of whether reconstruction is going to happen, what number of teams is going to be in the division and then you can shape a programme from that, based on what tolerance there is in the fixture schedule.
“It’s maybe a wee bit premature to be saying it’s definitely going to be this or definitely going to be that.
“I’m working on different things and I’m still waiting on one or two clubs to get back, but hopefully we can get an agreement sooner rather than later.”