Killie and Buddies ponder options

ST MIRREN and Kilmarnock are considering their options after being consigned to Scottish Premiership defeats for breaches of coronavirus protocols.

Motherwell have been awarded 3-0 victories over both clubs and St Mirren have also been handed a 3-0 defeat by Hamilton after a Scottish Professional Football League disciplinary tribunal made its long-awaited ruling.

A sub-committee of the SPFL board, chaired by an independent senior solicitor and involving a sheriff “highly experienced in sports disputes”, heard both clubs’ cases on November 10-11 after Covid-19 outbreaks forced the postponement of three league matches in October.

An SPFL statement declared that Kilmarnock had admitted breaches including a failure to implement the necessary physical distancing on a coach to an away game and during a pre-match meal.

St Mirren admitted the same breaches plus “failing to provide suitable facilities to enable players to observe physical distancing at training”. The written verdict revealed that 10 players were sharing an eight-metre bench.

Saints also accepted that players had been car-sharing to and from training with up to four in one vehicle.

Both clubs were also handed suspended £40,000 fines.

Kilmarnock said in a brief statement: “The club is bitterly disappointed by the outcome of the SPFL disciplinary case.

“We are in discussions with our legal representatives and will make further comment in due course.”

St Mirren declared their “disappointment” and added: “The club operated honestly throughout the whole process and will review its position before issuing a further response.”

Clubs have the right of appeal to the Scottish Football Association.

The decision moved Motherwell up three places to fifth spot in the Premiership, four points off the top four.

Bottom club Hamilton drew level with St Mirren on 11 points.