First Premiership club call on SPFL to declare the season over
St Mirren have become the first Premiership club to call on the SPFL board to declare the season over.
With the backing of more than 80% of the member clubs the Championship, First and Second divisions were declared over and decided on using average points per game.
The Joint Response Group in Scottish football have held numerous meetings but have so far put off making a decision on the top flight.
Across Europe much more decisive action has been taken with no football permitted in France and Holland until September 1.
St Mirren beat Hearts 1-0 in the last Premiership match played, on March 11 to move into ninth place which will ensure their place in the top flight whenever football resumes.
Tonight, the Paisley club stated:
As a club St Mirren has given its full backing to the SPFL’s plans to terminate the 2019/20 season in the Ladbrokes Championship, League 1 and League 2.
UEFA have now paved the way for the unfinished Premiership season to be called without the remaining games being played.
European football’s ruling body have given acceptable reasons for ending the season prematurely, as:
- Existence of an official order prohibiting sports events so that the domestic competitions cannot be completed before a date that would make it possible to complete the current season in good time before the next season starts.
- Insurmountable economic problems which make finishing the season impossible because it would put at risk the long-term financial stability of the domestic competition and/or clubs.
We believe these are highly sensible conditions as it has become increasingly likely that, firstly, no football will played until next season due to lockdown and social distancing and, secondly, that clubs across Scotland need to receive their end of season fee payments as quickly as possible or suffer serious financial problems.
We appreciate that, in line with SPFL rules, there will now be an EGM on May 12th to discuss the allegations regarding the previous vote on the resolution to end the season.
However, St Mirren’s view is that the safety of the supporters and the survival of Scottish football clubs must be the priority and therefore it is our opinion that the Premiership season should be terminated immediately. This will allow for end of season payments to be made and for clubs to start to plan as best they can for next season.
Dundee United, Raith Rovers and Cove Rangers have already been declared as the champions of their divisions with final prize money paid out to all clubs in the three lower divisions.