Hearts ready for legal fight against any relegation as a result of Coronavirus

Hearts officials at Tynecastle are ready to fight against any premature relegation.

Hearts will mount a tenacious fight against any decision to relegate them from the Ladbrokes Premiership following the Coronavirus outbreak.

The Evening News has learned that the club are willing to take legal action in the event of a premature demotion with eight games of the league campaign remaining.

The Scottish Football Association and Scottish Professional Football League suspended all games in Scotland on Friday due to the pandemic, but have yet to decide whether the season can be completed.

Further meetings are planned over the coming days, and the United Kingdom Government may make an announcement on sport campaigns later this week.

Hearts are poised to act in the event of any announcement which automatically demotes them. They currently sit four points adrift at the bottom of the Ladbrokes Premiership and want the chance to survive over 38 league games as planned.

Officials at Tynecastle Park are exploring all options available in case a decision is taken in the coming days which sends them into the Championship prematurely.

Owner Ann Budge and the Hearts board have looked at all possible eventualities, including a delayed finish to the season.

Until the SFA and SPFL reach an agreement on what is to happen at all levels of the game in Scotland, those in charge of the clubs remain powerless. Hearts, however, are preparing to fight their case vigorously if need be.