Why have Hearts waited until now to pursue court action?
If Hearts and Partick Thistle emerge successful from their legal action against the SPFL’S decision to relegate them, then Scottish football will end up in one almighty mess.
It could lead to another potential court case, and it could be that other clubs may well choose to challenge the validity of awarding Celtic the Premiership title.
The overall thinking could be that if it’s deemed to have been illegal at one end of the table, then the same rules should apply at the other end.
Dundee United, Raith Rovers and Cove Rangers have all been served with court papers that may lead to their promotions being quashed, and their title-winning triumphs, basically, counting for absolutely nothing.
This is an almighty tangle, but there is every chance that this is just the start and it could become even more complicated and uglier.
I’m not sure how it will go for Hearts and Thistle, but if the Tynecastle club really thought they were wronged at being relegated, then they should have pursued that angle from the start, instead of going for reconstruction.
I’m all for clubs standing their corner and fighting their battles.
But the legal arguments aren’t sitting well with me just now.
Hearts want £8-million and Partick want £2million – massive sums of money. I think they should have let this go, accepted the decision of the vote of the 42 clubs two months ago, and got on with it.
But now we could end up with a scenario that Scottish football might not be able to restart on August 1.
That would be a disaster for the game.
Every Premiership club is gearing towards that date, and it would be a real sickener for them if they weren’t allowed to get on with it due to an ongoing court case.
What would Sky Sports make of it all?
It could potentially harm the £150m sponsorship deal with the broadcaster.
Tynecastle supremo, Ann Budge, will be guided by the club’s legal team, and we will all be keeping close on proceedings in the coming days and weeks.
At this stage, I wouldn’t rule anything out.
Honestly, we could end up starting with 13 teams in the Premiership if Hearts get their way.
It keeps Scottish football in the UK news – but it’s not for the right reasons.
I hope this is all resolved quickly, but I fear there is a long, long way to go.
Scottish football is standing on the edge of a precipice.
The current legal action could just be the tip of the iceberg.