Hearts relegation confirmed, Partick Thistle and Stranraer also go down after arbitration panel rules in favour of SPFL
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HEARTS, Partick Thistle and Stranraer have had their SPFL relegations confirmed by a unanimous arbitration panel verdict.
It means Dundee United, Raith Rovers and Cove Rangers are officially promoted as champions of the three lower leagues from this year's curtailed Scottish football season.
Scotland's four divisions remain in a 12-10-10-10 formation, with a full Premiership season beginning this weekend and the three lower leagues getting under way on October 17 in a shortened, 27-game campaign.
Clubs voted in April in favour of an SPFL resolution to end last season prematurely, award the title and promotion to the leading club in each league and relegate the bottom side on an average points per game basis.
A league reconstruction board was then formed but clubs rejected a new formation of the divisions in favour of the current set-up.
The three clubs doomed to the drop, Hearts, Partick and Stranraer disputed the decision, and the former two took matters to court with the issue being referred back to the SFA for arbitration on an independent panel.
Today, that panel ruled unanimously in favour of the league's resolution, finally bringing the long running saga to an end.
Cove Rangers will officially step up to League 1 next season after a successful debut year, and Stranraer will replace them in a ten-team League 2 which also included Elgin City, who missed out on a possible play-off place due to the Covid-19 pandemic interruption.
Hearts and Raith will both play in next season's Championship, with Partick joining Cove in the third tier and Dundee United moving up with the big guns in the Premiership.
SPFL chairman Murdoch MacLennan said: “The formation of this SFA Arbitration Panel was an important step for Scottish football and one which enabled a minutely detailed examination of the entire process of ‘calling the season’.
“Directors and officials from the SPFL co-operated with the panel to the fullest possible extent, during which they were subjected to forensic examination by QCs, all under the scrutiny of a Senator of the College of Justice and two experienced Sheriffs.
“No-one should be under any illusion about the rigorous and challenging nature of this process. I would fully expect all those involved to agree that no stone was left unturned, no allegation left unanswered.
"Every aspect of the various arguments put forward by both Heart of Midlothian and Partick Thistle was examined minutely, with full access to all relevant documents, records, emails and telephone logs.
“The panel heard from many witnesses, including senior figures from across our game and three members of the SPFL executive team. Thousands of pages of evidence were considered.
“I’m therefore very pleased that the tribunal unanimously held that the challenges to the written resolution of 15 April 2020 failed, and that the SPFL were entitled to pass, and give effect to, the written resolution and all that flowed from it.
“Throughout the process, and whilst under the most severe pressure, criticism and media scrutiny, the SPFL has followed appropriate legal guidance and acted in accordance with the best interests of the SPFL as a whole at all times.
“It is regrettable that the league had to be concluded in the way that it was. However, despite calls to the contrary from some parties, subsequent events, including the virtual shutdown of our entire country for months, confirm that there was no viable alternative. With contact training only being allowed to resume on 29 June, it was simply impossible for games to be played or for Season 2019/20 to continue.
“I want to make clear that it is unfortunate the early curtailment of the season relegated Hearts, Partick Thistle and Stranraer. However, in circumstances where reconstruction was comprehensively rejected by SPFL member clubs, there was no viable alternative. I sympathise hugely with all three clubs, but given this clear and unequivocal tribunal decision, it is imperative that everyone accepts it and works together to ensure that our game can move forward and tackle the enormous and continuing challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.”
SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster said: “This is a clear, comprehensive and unanimous decision.
“I am absolutely delighted that our approach has been vindicated throughout, following an intense period of legal scrutiny and review.
“It has been a very demanding process, but I had complete confidence in the actions and decisions of the SPFL board and the SPFL executive team.”
