SPFL to consult clubs on contingency plans for incomplete season

Scotland’s 42 clubs have been contacted by the SPFL in a bid to put plans in place should coronavirus shut down the season again.

The league’s previous attempt to get permission to call the campaign how they saw fit was rejected by members, so a new questionnaire has been sent out to take soundings.

SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster said: “When the SPFL rules were drawn up many years ago, no one could have foreseen the impact which Covid-19 would have on our game.

“The fact that our rules did not expressly cover the situation where a season must be curtailed with a number of matches remaining to be played caused a great deal of uncertainty and delay in reaching a resolution last season. No one wants to see that repeated.

“Many of our clubs support the principle of drawing up a se t of protocols long before we get to the situation where league positions understandably influence the individual approach of clubs to these difficult situations.

“However, the proposal to allow the board a clearly specified and limited degree of authority to take action if we are unable to complete the season did not have sufficient support in the summer.”

Doncaster claimed there had been a shift in some positions.

He added: “Given the ongoing challenges caused to sport worldwide by Covid-19, several clubs have now indicated they have changed their position.

“The board wishes to establish if a sufficient number of clubs now wish to revisit this issue, so we can significantly reduce the uncertainty and division that arose towards the end of last season.

“Those circumstances were caused by the need to curtail the season, make promotions and relegations and cancel the play- offs, all in a written resolution.

“A s we k n o w, this effectively meant asking members to vote for the relegation of their club and other clubs in circumstances where the season could not be completed, with all the issues this prompted.

“If there is sufficient support to secure an amendment to the SPFL rules, then all clubs will know well in advance of any need to curtail the season what the outcome will be, so far as it concerns league positions, promotion, relegation, play-offs, fees and qualification for Uefa competitions.”