Jim Goodwin has revealed that the SPFL broke their own rules to help St Mirren in last night’s 0-0 draw against Celtic.
Since Friday the Paisley side were requesting that the match was postponed with requests going in to the SPFL during matchday.
In the background the SPFL approved or perhaps even suggested that players out on loan in the Lowland League were allowed to return and be involved for their parent club. Approval wasn’t given to bring Lewis Jamieson back from his loan at Inverness Caley Thistle.
Dylan McDonald has been out on loan at East Stirling was listed as a substitute while Daniel McManus was on loan at East Kilbride and came on as an 88th minute replacement for Kieran Offord.
After the draw Goodwin told the Daily Record:
On Wednesday afternoon we genuinely felt we were going to have to play six or seven under-17 players.
We asked for the game to be postponed but unfortunately the powers that be wanted the game to go ahead. So much so that they have bent loan rules to allow us to bring six under-18 players to bulk the squad.
They amended the loans to allow us to bring back players from Lowland League clubs. They went to great lengths to get the game on. They explored every avenue, even down to those loan rules.
The SFA and SPFLÂ got together on the Lowland loans, but we weren’t allowed to bring league ones back.
88′ – STM 0-0 CEL
First change for Saints as Kieran Offord is replaced by fellow debutant Daniel McManus.#STMCEL | #COYS pic.twitter.com/DufPYf9UkT
— St Mirren FC (@saintmirrenfc) December 22, 2021
Rather than listing u-17 players St Mirren were able to play McManus for the last few minutes, a player that has had recent game time in the Lowland League.
It may seem very trivial but rules are rules for a reason, with the SPFL it seems that rules are for guidance only.
In 2014 Legia Warsaw lost a Champions League qualifier 3-0 to Celtic after sending the ineligible Bartosz Bereszynskiego on for the last two minutes of the second leg of the tie.
Clearly St Mirren didn’t break any rules but the SPFL appear willing to drop the rules if it suits their purpose.
Seems to be a regular occurrence some people breaking rules to suit themselves.
The game should’ve been off and the beaks know it.
Griff should’ve been recalled then if that’s the case. Might not have made much difference as Celtic were pish. No plan B.
Even if rules were broken, Celtic still don’t deserve the three points from last night. No excuse for losing to under-18s! Too much emphasis put on the cup final by Celtic – which was almost a meaningless game in the context of this season- and they couldn’t step up to beat a seriously weakened St Mirren. I’m not saying the SFA/SPFL aren’t cheating scumbags but Celtic losing is the most scandalous thing.
Editor: Usually rules are rules, they are with UEFA, ask Legia. In Scotland they will negotiate anything for the O** F*** circus.
They followed the rules and for once the spl showed some common sense stop looking for excuses
How many of us were looking to boost the GD prior to the game
Lay the blame where it lies 6 points behind equals three draws look at what was missing in all three games……GOALS we need a consistent second goal-scorer even if he is a mid-fielder