WINNERS AND LOSERS UNDER TERMS OF RESOLUTION
● Partick Thistle and Rangers lead opposition to three division proposal
WINNERS
Dundee United
The Tannadice club’s return to the top flight would be confirmed after a four-season absence.
Queen of the South
Two points ahead of Championship bottom club Partick but have played a game more. Calling the season now would save Queens from the dropandsparethem aplay-off.
Raith Rovers
The League 1 race is so tight that only a point separates leaders Raith from Falkirk. Ending the season now would hand title to Rovers.
Brechin City
League 2’s bottom side would avoid a play-off which could see them drop out of the SPFL.
LOSERS
Partick Thistle
Under the terms of the SPFL resolution they would be relegated by 0.037 of a point.
Inverness, Dundee, Ayr, Arbroath, Dunfermline, Morton
Play-off aspirations would be ended.
Falkirk
Would lose League 1 title to Raith with eight games still to play.
Airdrie, Montrose, East Fife
Play-off hopes dashed.
Edinburgh City, Elgin, Cowdenbeath, Queen’s Park, Stirling
Again, play-off dream quashed.
Growing opposition to an SPFL resolution designed to terminate the season immediately for Championship, League One and League Two looks likely to see the proposal voted down by the 42 senior clubs.
The league body yesterday recommended that its clubs approve league placings in the three leagues being determined by points earned per game. No football has been possible in the three divisions since 10 March because of the indefinite suspension caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
If enacted, the SPFL resolution would mean Dundee United, Raith Rovers and Cove Rangers being promoted from the second, third and fourth tiers respectively, with Partick Thistle being relegated to League One and Stranraer dropping down to League Two.
However, it appears that the SPFL – who postponed a decision on settling the title and relegation in the Premiership – do not have the numbers to push this through on a vote. A 75 per cent majority is required across the SPFL. This equates to nine of the 12 Premiership clubs, eight of the Championship teams, and 15 of the clubs across League One and League Two.
Rangers, Partick Thistle and Hibernian have all voiced opposition to calling a halt to any leagues. It is believed that there are at least two other clubs in the Championship
ready to reject the SPFL’S resolution, which will require all clubs to lodge their votes before 5pm on Friday. In itself, failure to reach the eight threshold in the Championship would send the SPFL back to the drawing board, but there is also doubts about sufficient Premiership clubs casting their votes in favour, with Celtic and Hearts, as well as the Easter Road club, understood to be against ending the season for the lower divisions at this point.
Rangers were most vociferous in their objection to the resolution, describing as
“abhorrent” that “any clubs would be unfairly relegated”.
Thistle, meanwhile, questioned why the distribution of prize money has been attached to approval of the resolution. The SPFL also stated that league reconstruction would be on the table if the resolution is passed.
And, in an interview with The Scotsman, Hibernian chief executive Leeann Dempster petitioned for a “pause” in the process to decide on standings for this season.
She stated that Hibs were “open” to finishing the campaign in August or September, if the current health emergency prevented any earlier conclusion on the field.
Rangers left no-one in any doubt as to their opposition to the resolution in a stronglyword statement in which they said: “It is abhorrent that certain clubs could be unfairly relegated if the current SPFL proposals were implemented. We must future proof the Scottish game.
“Any restructure of the SPFL or other solutions to the current impasse must be afforded time to scrutinise in detail and consider all options.
“The consequences of forcing through change without due care and attention will have severe consequences for the Scottish game.
“Scottish football must work together for the common good of every club, their staff and supporters.
“Any attempts to railroad changes to existing rules or run roughshod over corporate governance will be opposed in the strongest possible terms.
“We must allow decisions to be made in a rational, fair and balanced manner.”
The Ibrox club revealed they will “immediately propose a member’s resolution which would release prize money to be distributed to all clubs throughout Scotland urgently”.
The Ibrox club added in a
“It is abhorrent that certain clubs could be unfairly relegated if the current SPFL proposals were implemented”
- Rangers statement