'Hearts would need to go down' - Chris Sutton has say on how league should end as ex-Hibs midfielder sends 'partisan' warning

The ex-Celtic striker’s view is the league should be finished

Ex-Celtic striker Chris Sutton believes the Scottish football season should end now with Hearts going down and his former side being crowned champions.

Writing in his Daily Record column, the pundit called on the relevant authorities and organisations to confirm the cancellation of the football season following the decision to postpone football in Scotland due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Sutton reckons that the game won’t be returning any time soon.

Chris Sutton reckons Hearts should be relegated. Picture: SNS

In turn, he is of the view Celtic should be awarded the league title with Dundee United replacing Hearts in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

Outcry

“Neil Doncaster said the campaign can’t be made null and void and that’s fine – just declare it straight away instead,” he said.

“No doubt there will be an angry mob up in arms at the suggestion but it’s a matter of common sense. The hard work has been done by most of the clubs.

“Celtic are 13 points clear at the top, Liverpool are miles ahead in England. Leeds United have worked hard to get to the top of the Championship, Dundee United have done the hard yards up here.

“There would be outcry for the teams who get relegation, but I’m sorry, that’s just the way it is.

“Hearts would need to go down. I’m sure Ann Budge would be on to the lawyers but they have been the worst side in Scotland this season and as it stands they would deserve to go down.

“It works both ways. And before anyone says it’s just because it’s Celtic, then think again. I have a close attachment to Norwich City and if we draw a line under the campaign they have to go down.”

Contradiction

Yet, conversely, writing in his Daily Mail column, Sutton feels it is too early for Liverpool to be confirmed as Premier League champions and the bottom three relegated.

With Aston Villa in the bottom three but with a game in hand which could lift them out of the relegation zone calling the season now would “open a can of worms”.

He wrote: “If we were to cancel the FA Cup, Champions League and Europa League and say no one will be declared winners of those competitions this season, then we could live with that.

“But to cancel this Premier League campaign right now, declare Liverpool as champions and relegate Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Norwich, would open up a can of worms.”

‘Doesn’t help’

Meanwhile, ex-Hearts and Hibs midfielder Michael Stewart called on fans and pundits to stay away from “partisan rhetoric”.

He tweeted: “Although I agree in principle that we should be trying to finish the campaigns before handing out trophies, equally these are unprecedented times and we should stay away from the partisan rhetoric. It doesn’t help anyone during these difficult times.”

It was in reply to a horse racing analogy from former Rangers midfielder Alex Rae which is understood to be in relation to Celtic being awarded the league title.

He posted: “If a horse race over a mile starts and one horse is 10 lengths clear and the rest have fallen and the lead horse falls at the last hurdle do they give the lead horse the win as he was in front + does the bookies pay out as a winner ???

“Asking for a friend?”