Lennon hopes court case won’t delay next season

Hearts and Thistle’s dispute with SPFL worries manager

CELTIC manager Neil Lennon last night expressed hope the SPFL can reach an amicable agreement with Hearts and Partick Thistle and avoid the start to the new Premiership season being delayed.

The Tynecastle and Firhill clubs, who were relegated after league reconstruction was rejected on Monday, have launched a joint legal action against the governing body.

They are seeking £8million and £2m in compensation respectively after the 2019/20 season was curtailed prematurely due to the Covid-19 pandemic and final placings decided on a points per game basis.

Hearts and Partick have stated they “reserve the right” to take out an interim interdict that stops the top flight from getting underway on August 1.

Lennon, whose side return to training for the first time in three months last week, is keen for the new campaign to kick off as scheduled and wants to see the stand-off resolved.

“I can’t speak on behalf of other clubs, but I understand the reaction [of Hearts and Partick] to some degree,” he said.

“Listen, it’s not exclusive to Scotland. We’ve seen the Dutch association paying out compensation to clubs who were absolutely livid with their decisions. There’s been legal fights in France and

Belgium. In

England Leagues One and Two are not happy. I get it.

“We’ll have to take it a day at time like everything and see what the outcome is going to be. I just hope everyone can find some sort of peace and resolution.

“I don’t know if an interdict to halt the start of the season is feasible. But I’d just hope the SPFL, Hearts and Thistle can come to some sort of agreement, whether it’s compensation or whatever, I don’t know.

“What we can’t have is another delay. It would be so damaging, not just to the top clubs but