Demoted Jags rage at league and Cormack

PARTICK THISTLE launched a litany of criticisms at the SPFL and Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack last night after being condemned to relegation.

Reconstruction talks that could have salvaged a secondtier spot for Thistle next season in a 14-team set-up collapsed when a meeting of Premiership clubs found six top-flight teams voted against a revamp.

News of Thistle’s fate — and that of fellow bottom clubs Hearts and Stranraer — was made public on Friday night before the Glasgow club were informed of the development.

In a statement to their fans, Thistle insisted they were being treated in a ‘selfish, thoughtless and patronising’ fashion by Premiership outfits and the league body. Partick also released a bombshell

letter, sent by Jacqui Low to SPFL chairman Murdoch MacLennan 10 days ago.

The Thistle chairman told MacLennan she believes the SPFL had ‘taken leave of its collective senses’ and fuelled ill-feeling among clubs, hitting out at a ‘divisive and accusatory’ approach of the governing body’s PR.

Thistle were sentenced to League One for 2020/21 despite being only two points adrift with one game in hand and nine Championship matches to play.

That led the Firhill club to stress they were ‘deeply angered’ by the decision to halt reconstruction debate due to what was identified on Friday as ‘insufficient support for any prospect of league reconstruction at this time’ after the Premiership met.

Aberdeen hosted a meeting of the top 12, after which Cormack claimed the timing was wrong for altering the make-up of the divisions.

The Dons, St Mirren,

Ross County, St Johnstone, Hibernian and Dundee United were understood to be against the proposals, thereby rendering any Premiership vote redundant.

‘As the reconstruction group hadn’t even formally presented a final proposal, it is disappointing that this decision could be made regardless,’ said the Thistle statement. ‘It is hard to see this as a considered decision about reconstruction. It smacks more about the settling of scores within the Premiership.

‘The way that this news was made public before clubs affected by the decision knew — and before they could inform staff and players — was a disgrace.

‘Yet again we were left to pick up the pieces due to thoughtless, selfish behaviour that showed no regard for fellow clubs.

‘Speaking on behalf of the group of Premiership clubs, Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack said: “The strong feeling of the group was that we must focus all of our energies on emerging from the crisis we face”.

‘This is patronising nonsense. Is Mr Cormack suggesting no clubs in other leagues have considered what’s happening to Scottish football? If so, that is disrespectful and offensive.

‘All our recent actions and decision-making have taken the bigger picture in to account.’

Thistle sought QC advice four weeks ago that suggested they could take legal action over the controversial ballot on ending the season that was pushed through by Dundee changing their vote.

However, they parked that plan, citing the greater good of the Scottish game and for fear of harming fellow clubs.

Low then accepted an invitation to join the Reconstruction Group task force. ‘We did so in good faith, despite our initial misgivings that it was not a genuine attempt to address the problems created by a hasty end to the season, after assurances from the SPFL,’ stated Thistle.

‘Sadly, the SPFL and some clubs — the six behind that decision yesterday — have made it even more difficult for Partick Thistle to emerge unscathed from the crisis we now face.

‘Our treatment is unprecedented in Scottish football. During this pandemic, across sport, efforts are ongoing to try to prevent damage, yet our governing body inexplicably chose a different path.

‘It has failed in its primary duty of care to a member. We have been forgotten, ignored and patronised while senior figures, for reasons best known to themselves, have scuppered a potential solution that did the least harm with no regard to the plight of those who have been betrayed for a second time.

‘This is a sad indictment on those who govern our game and the clubs who think this is acceptable.’

In going public with their letter of April 30, written by Low and sent to MacLennan, Thistle accuse the SPFL of further inciting divisions in the game with the tone of its regular press releases.

Low wrote: ‘The new public communications approach of the SPFL isn’t just unhelpful; the language used in your last letter is divisive and accusatory. If the intention is to bring clubs together, I fear it’ll have the opposite effect.’