Former St Mirren chief Stewart Gilmour hits out at SPFL 'sporting integrity' over goalkeeper situation

St Mirren were forced to bring in Zdenek Zlamal for the league clash with Hibs on Saturday. Picture: SNS

Former St Mirren chief Stewart Gilmour hit out at the SPFL over the situation which led the club to recruit Hearts goalkeeper Zdenek Zlamal on an emergency loan.

The Buddies were without all three of Jak Alnwick, Dean Lyness and Peter Urminsky for the weekend’s 3-0 defeat to Hibs.

Alnwick and Lyness tested positive for Covid-19 and it resulted in Urminksy having to self-isolate.

St Mirren confirmed the loan of Zlamal on Saurday ahead of the fixture against Jack Ross’ side.

In the aftermath of the defeat, Buddies boss Jim Goodwin said he didn’t expect the team to be "forced to play”.

He added: “We would’ve been the laughing stock of world football if a Premiership team put an outfield player in goals for a league game.”

Speaking on Sportsound on Monday night, the club's former chief Gilmour noted that you would have to believe in the tooth fairy if you think an Old Firm game would have gone ahead if either Celtic or Rangers were missing three goalkeepers.

He said: “We keep going on about football integrity and that comes from the SPFL chief executive on a regular basis.

"And I do not think that having three players in a very specialised position being unavailable is football integrity. I just think that's totally wrong. I think we've set a very special precedent here.

"Are you trying to tell me that in the Old Firm game, if that happens, that the game will take place?

He added: "I do think a goalkeeper position is absolutely completely different. I just think the whole decision is totally wrong.

"It undermines the integrity of football, in particular in Scottish football."

Gilmour angered Hearts fans earlier this year when he criticised the club’s legal stance over relegation to the Scottish Championship.

"This carry on of Hearts threatening to take legal action for me is just nonsense, absolute nonsense,” he said.

"If you don’t want to abide by what the league decides and the league rules then go and play somewhere else, go and find another league.”