Let’s make this a fight to the finish
MAXWELL AIMS FOR CONCLUSION OF SEASON
SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell insists season 2019-20 must be played to a finish — or the champions will always be accused of not deserving their winners’ medals.
The SPFL-SFA joint response group have already made it clear that declaring the campaign null and void is not an option.
As Sportsmail revealed, however, there have been talks about a doomsday scenario which would involve cutting the season short, awarding Celtic a ninth consecutive title and relegating bottom side Hearts.
Maxwell claimed yesterday that no one favours that particular scenario, telling BBC 5 Live: ‘Everyone wants to get the games played.
‘The guys who get the winners’ medals at the end of the season want to know they’ve played every match — and no one can come back and say they didn’t deserve it in any way.
‘Clubs who are potentially in relegation spots, if they’re going to go down at the end of the season, then it’s because they’ve been given every chance to avoid that — and it’s something we need to try and work through.
‘I don’t think there is a consideration for cancellation. It’s the same concerns the English Premier League have in terms of broadcast contracts and contractual obligations that will apply to every league in the world.
‘The income is vital regardless of what the headline number is — and it’s important we get games finished.’
While the SPFL are determined to take whatever steps are necessary to play out the closing rounds of fixtures, any decision by government — in Westminster or Holyrood — to shut down football for the long term may yet force their hand.
Amid continued uncertainty, a number of clubs are already counting the cost in lost gate receipts and other income, with Hearts having already approached their players and staff about accepting pay cuts.
Maxwell, meanwhile, hopes that Scottish clubs will qualify for emergency state aid.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced last Friday that the government will pay 80 per cent of wages — capped at £2,500 per month — of employees who had been affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
And Maxwell (right) said: ‘I’m sure the clubs will be very interested because, as businesses, they’ll be eligible for governmental support and it’s important we all look towards that.
‘It’s not just football. It’s businesses — and it’s not just in the UK. It’s across the world. The economic impact of this is huge and it’s something we’re going to have to work through.
‘We’ve tried to release a bit of forward funding to clubs to try and help them.
‘Everyone is trying to cut their cloth and act accordingly because these are such unprecedented times and no one knows how we’re going to get out of it.’
Meanwhile, the SFA last night pleaded with clubs to immediately suspend their training sessions after it emerged some are continuing to pay no heed to the danger posed by the coronavirus pandemic.
A number of clubs are understood to be blithely ignoring the advice on social distancing from government health experts and the game’s governing body. The clubs in question are believed to be grassroots sides rather than full-time professional outfits in the senior leagues. Nonetheless, with such reckless behaviour endangering the lives of the players and their team-mates as well as those they subsequently come into contact with, Maxwell has called for such behaviour to stop immediately. Before Prime Minister Boris Johnson imposed an unprecedented virus lockdown last night, a statement released by the joint response group formed by the SFA and SPFL read: ‘Following today’s meeting and further to conversations over the weekend with our medical consultant, Dr John MacLean, it has become a p p a r e n t that clubs are still convening training sessions against the guidance of the Scottish FA.
‘We take this opportunity to remind members in the strongest possible terms that they desist from conducting training sessions under their auspices.
‘Not only is this against the guidance issued throughout the game but it also goes against the government and UK chief medical officers’ advice to delay the spread of coronavirus.
‘I would urge our members, and especially our affiliated national associations responsible for grassroots football, to ensure clubs observe social distancing guidance outlined by government.
‘While many of the instances have been anecdotal, I have seen it for myself this weekend. Please stop it. I urge everyone involved in the game to do what we can to safeguard public health as best we can.
‘The message from the First Minister, which was reiterated today, could not be clearer when she said: “The advice that is being given to people is not to be seen as optional”. That applies to football as it does across society.
‘We have been in touch today with Jason Leitch, Scotland’s national clinical director, and his message is equally clear: do not gather in groups.
‘He also outlined the importance of exercise but that it is done alone, or in very small family groups, whilst observing social distancing guidelines.’