Thistle and Dundee get say on reconstruction

Jacqui Low of relegated Championship club Partick Thistle is on the 15-strong SPFL Reconstruction Group which will be jointly chaired by Ann Budge of Hearts.

The Tynecastle club could face relegation if the Premiership is declared over, as happened with the Championship and Leagues 1 and 2 this week.

Dundee managing director John Nelms, who controversially tried to cast a No vote to the proposals to end the lower leagues, before changing it to Yes, is also a member of the group, which will have its first meeting on Monday afternoon.

Neither Stranraer, relegated from League 1, nor Brechin, bottom of League 2, are represented.

However, both Raith Rovers and Falkirk from League 1 are on the committee. The vote to end the lower leagues saw Raith crowned champions despite leading Falkirk by only a point, a situation which was fiercely cricised by the Bairns’ Gary Deans, who will now sit alongside Rovers’ Bill Clark.

There are also representatives of both the Highland and Lowland Leagues, whose declared champions Kelty Hearts and Brora Rangers could make the step up to the SPFL depending on the group’s eventual proposals.

The other joint chair, Les Gray of Hamilton, said: “I am delighted that so many clubs have come forward to support the league restructuring process. I am looking forward to a positive debate.”

Budge added: “The importance of league restructuring is understood by all. It is vital that we all work together to find solutions for the benefit of the game as a whole.”

Meanwhile, the SPFL yesterday advanced lowerleague clubs the £1.8 million they were due at the end of the original season.