The suspension of football announced by the SFA and SPFL has set off an incredible straw clutching exercise within Scottish football.
In England the EPL and EFL are hoping to resume fixtures on April 3/4/5 but that seems wildly optimistic as the impact of the Coronavirus takes hold worldwide.
There are no precedents for the current situation with no definite date for when football can resume.
It is generally assumed that the league season finishes in May and restarts in July but it could be June or July before football is played again.
All through football teams have been chasing promotion and titles while other fight against relegation, the essence of the sport. A new season can’t start out of fresh air, places are dependent on the previous season.
As well as Celtic; Dundee United, Raith Rovers and Cove Rangers are at the top of their division and anticipating life in a higher tier next season. Similarly Hearts, Partick Thistle, Stranraer and Brechin City are fighting the drop.
Prestige and glamour are mainly at stake in the Scottish game, in England West Brom, Leeds, Norwich City and Aston Villa are looking at £200m or more as the difference between playing in the EPL or in the Championship.
Whenever football resumes, whether that is April or October it seems logical to complete the current season- providing clubs are still in business. Anything beyond a month in mothballs could be fatal for some clubs with May and June the cash rich months when season ticket money rolls in to ensure operations over the next 12 months.
Celtic will be ready for eight more fixtures, three before the split and five after with the SPFL rulebook stating the following
P40, clause C38
‘The Club occupying position one in the League at the end of a Season shall be declared the Champion Club of the League and shall hold the “The Scottish Professional Football League Championship Trophy” until the next Season’s League Competition is concluded.’
P22, clause C17
‘At the end of each Season (following completion of all League Matches in the Premiership in that Season) the Club in position 12 in the Premiership shall be relegated to play and be eligible to participate in the Championship for and during the next Season.’
However, Clause’s 14 and 15 might counter that.
‘The Clubs for the time being entitled in terms of these Rules to participate in the Premiership shall, disregarding any abandoned or postponed matches, play in 38 League Matches in any one Season.’