Top flight clubs out of touch, says Stenny chief

STENHOUSEMUIR chairman Iain McMenemy last night accused Scottish Premiership clubs of being out of step with society by starting their new league season on August 1. The Ochilview chief was responding to criticism that by not testing players for coronavirus, lower league outfits were putting money before safety. Championship, League One and Two clubs all voted to begin their campaigns on October 17, which now looks to be behind closed doors after fresh Covid-19 regulations introduced yesterday. However, insisting clubs like his were following all the rules, McMenemy pointed a finger at the top flight who rushed to start their new season on August 1. ‘We agreed to come back on October 17 with the possibility that there may be testing in place and we budgeted for it and most of us put money aside,’ he said. ‘But it was not a requirement. ‘But if we are to go up against a team that is testing, then we have to test as well. That’s the rules that are in place. ‘The lower leagues decided to act in accordance completely with government advice, which is that contact sport up to 30 people outside does not require testing. ‘It’s not the lower league clubs that are out of step with society. It’s the Premiership clubs that are out of step with society. ‘Premiership clubs wanted to go back quicker than society would allow, so they asked for a system to be put in place that meant they could come back ahead of society unlocking.’