Halting season is the right decision
St Mirren ‘happy’ to take break after resolution is finally passed
St Mirren chiefs insist halting this season’s action is the right decision after a week of uncertainty over the vote.
The proposals will see the 2019/ 20 season ended in the Ladbrokes Championship, League 1 and League 2, with same happening in the top flight if matches can’t be played.
Handling of the vote has been widely criticised after Dundee FC appeared to change its position.
Saints bosses had backed the SPFL’s resolution from the outset and said they were pleased it had finally gone through.
A club spokesman said: “Dundee FC’s decision to say yes has finally resulted in the passing of the SPFL’s resolution, recommending the termination of the 2019/ 20 season in the Ladbrokes Championship, League 1 and League 2 – with the same applying to the Premiership, if the remaining matches in our division cannot be played due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“St Mirren Football Club put on record last week that we fully supported the resolution and we firmly believe the decision that has been made by member clubs is the correct one.
He added: “As we’ve previously said, the concerns of football during this terrible crisis seems like a small thing when people are dying and, as lockdown continues, both the UK and Scottish Governments make it abundantly clear that everybody must stay in their homes as much as possible, with the least social contact, until scientific opinion says otherwise.
“From a public safety angle, for the protection of both fans and players, and to safeguard the NHS, we are happy that Scottish football is now likely to be taking a complete break until after the summer and, hopefully, able to start season 2020/21 safely on schedule.”
The resolution means Dundee United, Raith Rovers and Cove Rangers have all been named champions of the Championship, League One and League Two, respectively.
Partick Thistle, bottom of the Championship by two points, but with a game in hand and Stranraer, League One’s bottom side by eight points, have dropped down a division.
If it is decided the Premiership season should end without fulfilling the remaining fixtures, as appears now likely, Celtic would be handed the title and Hearts would relegated to the Championship.
St Mirren would retain top flight status as they currently sit ninth in the table.
The concerns of football during this terrible crisis seem like a small thing when people are dying