Elliot would rather his Tynecastle side won title on pitch, not on a phone

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Just like their counterparts at Dundee United, Raith Rovers and Cove Rangers, no-one at Tynecastle FC will be anything other than chuffed if they, like the SPFL clubs, are ultimately awardedtheleaguetitlethey’ve had their eyes on all season.

Following a board meeting on Thursday night, the East of Scotland League clubs have been given until noon on Friday 24 April to vote on a proposal to end the 2019-20 season, settling places on the points-per-game ruling. That would result in Tynecastle being crowned Division One – Conference B champions and elevate them into the Premier League next term.

While that would be a cause for jubilation and allow manager Calum Elliot to fulfil his season’s ambition, he insists he would still prefer the relative jeopardy of seeing out the fixtures. “It is frustrating,” said the young manager. “The boys have been excellent this season and all you want is for them to be able to finish the job they started.

“I want them to have the experience, at the end of the season, when all the work that they have done has sealed the league and the boys come back into the changing room after getting the points they need and they have that moment of celebration, where everything they have done throughout the season, the emotion and the togetherness comes out in that one memorable moment. That’s the celebrations you want.

“Football is about passion and being part of a team so it’s not the same, isolated at home and getting a call or a text message to tell you it’s done.”

Elliot, inset, feels that scenario is unfair to his players, and believes it is unfair on the teams still attempting to chase them down.

Sitting 20 points clear at the top of the table, (albeit Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts have three games in hand), the

Meggetland club have a fairly unassailable lead and are the undoubted favourites for the title. “But there are no guarantees that would have happened but the boys had given themselves one helluva chance to make that happen,” he added.

Now, though, Elliot, like everyone else, will await the outcome of next week’s vote.

“What they will do, I have no idea. There is so much uncertainty even in terms of planning for next season,” he said.

“With the league suspended it is difficult for the boys to keep motivated. Players train to compete but if they don’t know when they will next compete it is difficult for them.

But, football will resume and when it does, if it’s possible, we want to finish the season.

“I don’t think it is right for any team to be awarded anything because anything could have happened in the remaining fixtures. Teams get injuries, key players pick up suspensions, teams lose form.

“I would rather see out the season, even if that means a smaller number of fixtures next season, or fewer cups. That is the fairest way to do it. I just don’t know if that can work. I just know it isn’t fair on us to void it and it wouldn’t be fair to relegate teams who haven’t had the opportunity to play the remaining games.”