'People want to move on' - SPFL clubs and players have say on reconstruction decision and Hearts relegation
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Monday’s announcement that league reconstruction had not gained enough support for a possible change to structure has all but drawn a line under the issue.
It has resulted in Hearts, Partick Thistle and Stranraer dropping down a division following the decision to terminate the 2019/20 on a points-per-game basis. In addition, Kelty Hearts and Brora Rangers will remain in the Lowland League and Highland League respectively.
What have clubs and players been saying?
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Hide AdBilly Bowie, Kilmarnock, told the Daily Record: “I don’t know if Hearts taking legal action will mean a delay in the season starting but I really hope Scottish football can just move on.
“I’m sure the view a lot of clubs have taken is that they just want to leave it as it is so we can move forward and start back again. Maybe reconstruction is something for the future but not just now because the main thing is to get us back playing again on August 1.
“It’s a democratic process so you’ve got to accept the decisions that are made and, while it might not have been what we all favoured, if reconstruction had gone ahead then we would have got on with it.
“People want to move on – that’s certainly our opinion at Kilmarnock. We’re back training and want to get ready to kick off the new season. That doesn’t mean we can’t have sympathy for Hearts at the same time as wanting to draw a line under everything and start looking ahead.”
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Hide AdStranraer chairman Iain Dougan said: “The aim now has to be to win League Two and get straight back to where we should have been. Stranraer certainly don’t have the finances to pursue a legal avenue.
“It’s not a case of flinging in the towel. A court case may be successful but I don’t think it would reinstate us in League One which was our ultimate goal. We felt aggrieved at dropping out of a league with so much of the season still to go.
“But if Hearts take that route and are successful then you’d think ourselves and Partick Thistle might be awarded something too. So it may well be that Stranraer and Partick Thistle don’t have to go to court.
“Hearts are a big club with financial clout and if they feel they have a good case then who are we to tell them not to do it?”
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Hide AdCeltic midfielder Callum McGregor said: “I’ve got a lot of sympathy for the relegated clubs. It’s a very difficult situation that’s been forced on everyone, the way the league was curtailed.
“These teams had a fighting chance of getting out. So there’s sympathy there, and I’m sure every player in Scotland will be the same.
“There are guys who you know at these clubs and this is going to have an impact on their livelihoods.
“Then there are the most important people, the backroom staff, the canteen ladies and the people who wash the kit. They are the hub of any club and seem to be the people who get affected most when these things happen.
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Hide Ad“It’s through no fault of their own as well. It’s really unfortunate and your heart does go out to them. These clubs just need to try and make do as best they can as it’s not a great situation.”
Hamilton executive Les Gray told PLZ Soccer:” My first thought was great disappointment. I’ve been an advocate of league reconstruction for some time and working hard in the background to try and make it possible and try and get a reconstruction package which would work for all the members and at the same time prevent Hearts, Partick Thistle and Stranraer from being treated unfairly. Really disappointing.
“I’m not that surprised. Ann has made it clear that her preference would be not to do that and ultimately she may feel that is her only recourse now. We’ve got our guidance and QC advice and we know where that stands. Hearts will do what they have to do but we all hoped to avoid that obviously. I think the SPFL board have left no stone unturned in trying to find a resolution that could allow for reconstruction and allow for fixing the problems of Covid effectively.”
Donald Findlay, Cowdenbeath chairman, said on BBC Sportsound: “Our position has been consistent throughout but we were asked to look at it from the perspective of the wider interest rather than any particular interest from the club’s point of view. That’s what we did. We approached it on a principled and I think ethical basis and we voted against.
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Hide Ad“These clubs are losing out but other clubs lose out because of the way the season ended, and nobody bothered about the fact Cowdenbeath were giving up a chance of promotion [via play-offs].”
Falkirk chairman Gary Deans said: “As we’ve sadly come to expect in Scottish football, self-interest has won the day and the voices of common sense and reform have been drowned out.
“As many of you will know, Falkirk Football Club have been heavily engaged in recent discussions and I, as Chairman, committed a great deal of time and energy to negotiations with the SPFL, our league representatives and with other clubs. We voted for today’s proposals and there are many others with the appetite for reform but not in enough numbers to affect the change that our game so badly needs.
“So where does this leave us? My previous statements have made clear my thoughts on the SPFL, the conduct of some clubs and the processes which have led us to this position. I can see no benefit in repeating those criticisms now. In my view it is time to look forward rather than continue to bang our heads off this particular wall.”
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Hide AdPartick Thistle chair Jacqui Low said: “Partick Thistle is neither shocked nor surprised by today’s announcement. It has been clear for some time that we were to be sacrificed for the alleged greater good of the Scottish game, but it is still sickening now that it has been confirmed.
“In recent weeks, we have gone over the limited options open to us in this situation. Court action is our preferred route. However, the reality is that the cost to do so is prohibitive for us and it comes with no guarantee of success.
“As a member of the SPFL, we feel badly let down especially by its Board and Chairman. In allowing harm to be done to some members, as they have done, can the SPFL really still be regarded as a membership organisation that works in the best interests of all its members, one that genuinely acts on behalf of the membership as a whole? In all of its actions of recent months, the SPFL has shown it is not fit for purpose. That must be addressed, claiming to only do what members tell them is an assertion that has now worn thin.
“Finally, what has also been made clear today is that, despite this being the worst of times, a majority of Scottish football wasn’t prepared to stand by its own. There are a number of honourable exceptions, who know who they are – to all of you we say thank you, we will not forget.”
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Hide AdEdinburgh City defender Conrad Balatoni tweeted: “Haven’t really mentioned league reconstruction as wanted to wait till it was finalised.. Shambles so it is. A chance to better our leagues and think outside the box to potentially increase the product on show for fans and players for years to come.”
Alloa Athletic midfielder Jon Robertson said: “Pretty disappointed there’s not been a good go at a reconstruction! Would have liked to have seen bigger and fewer leagues, I liked the idea of the 3 leagues of 14. Anyhoo looking forward to another 7 games against Inverness next season.”