Deans urges SPFL to ‘impose’ reconstruction

FORMER Hearts chairman Leslie Deans has called on the SPFL to “impose” reconstruction if a majority of clubs want it.

The lawyer has warned that the alternative could mean lengthy litigation which could delay the start of the Scottish Premiership, threaten Scottish clubs’ participation in European competition and eventually cost £8 million.

In an open letter to the SPFL, Deans wrote: “Will our clubs elect for a new dawn and reconstruction to 14-10-10-10 where no club suffers major harm and damage or do they reject the opportunity before them?

“And if more than 21 of our 42 clubs give the SPFL board’s proposal a positive response, will the board use the executive powers it possesses to impose reconstruction?

“Neil Doncaster said on Sky TV as recently as last Friday that the board could not go against the will of the majority of the clubs. An imposed reconstruction would prove he spoke with honesty and integrity.”

Deans, who was Hearts chairman in the late 1990s, added: “Partick Thistle’s excellent statement on June 13 calls for clubs to come together and cause no lasting harm. The alternative is the litigation which Hearts, and perhaps others, will have to pursue.

“I believe the already strong case is strengthened by the restraint of trade principle and recent decisions in France and Belgium. The

SPFL board should consider the damage this litigation could cause.

“Firstly, as someone who’s been in the legal profession for 45 years, I can assure them it could be months or years before any case is finally settled. The legal process can be slow and the courts are, like us all, affected by the lockdown.

“Secondly, Hearts could seek interdict to prevent the league starting. Whilst there’s no guarantee the court would grant this, if they did, would the Sky TV deal be adversely affected?”

SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster.