Livingston explain their reasons for supporting SPFL resolution to call season

Livingston are fifth in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

Livingston have revealed that they will support a Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) resolution that could result in a premature conclusion to the Scottish Premiership.

In response to the current coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent lockdown affecting much of the world, the SPFL released a proposal on Wednesday, asking all 42 member clubs to vote on whether the Championship, League One and League Two should be ended immediately, using a points-per-game measurement to determine final standings and promotion/relegation.

Despite Premiership teams being asked to vote, the top division would only be concluded if authorities deem it impossible to find a way to play the remaining matches in a reasonable timescale. Some reports have intimated that the SPFL would take a view on such a scenario on April 23, which is when European governing body UEFA will next make their recommendations to all 55 of its associations.

Hearts, Rangers, Partick Thistle and Falkirk have publicly denounced the plans. Livingston, however, believe the season should be called now, stressing that it would allow sufficient time for the 2020/21 season to begin and that a new television deal can be adhered to. The club - which currently lies fifth in the Premiership and has a chance of qualifying for the Europa League - says it is “the best of all options, in which no option is great”.

In a statement on their website, the West Lothian club wrote: “There are a number of reasons why we are supporting this resolution, which we hope to outline below.

“In a letter from Scottish Ministers to the SPFL, the guidance suggests that the restrictions currently in place may not be lifted until a minimum of June 10. However, our understanding is that it is likely to be later than this. These guidelines are in place to help to alleviate the pressure on the NHS.

“In our opinion, there is no viable space to finish the current season and we feel with over 75% of the games completed, an average points per game system is the best of all options, in which no option is great. Unfortunately, it is impossible to find a neutral ground which suits everyone.

“It is fundamental to Livingston Football Club that league prize money can be paid out, as we have a duty of care to our employees and fans to ensure we still have a football club for the following season. The only way for league money to be distributed is via the league season concluding and we must emphasise that voiding the season does not achieve this.

“From all discussions with the SPFL, it is our opinion that one thing that is paramount in fulfilling the new contracts is from Sky Sports and Premier Sports is that the new season starts on the contractual dates, or as close to as possible within reason.

“As a club, we feel that living in this state of limbo is detrimental to next year’s revenue streams and closure is needed. Season tickets and commercial sponsorship play a huge part in our business model and bringing the season to an end allows our business to focus on the new season ahead.

“From our perspective, this has been an extremely tough decision to come to as we as a football club would have loved the opportunity to finish the season and push for a European spot, which was potentially worth huge amounts of revenue.

“Our preferred option, back on March 13, was to finish the current league before the new one started. It has become abundantly clear that this would be difficult at best to achieve, talking into account the pandemic, financial and contractual agreements.”