Details of SPFL legal battle emerge; Celtic’s champions status addressed as well as season delay

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Hearts and Partick Thistle will not be seeking to reverse the decision to name champions throughout the divisions of the SPFL last season, despite challenging rulings on promotion and relegation, they confirmed in a joint statement today.

The duo feel aggrieved that they have been relegated to the Scottish Championship and Scottish League One after the SPFL’s decision to curtail the 2019/20 campaign.

After lodging a petition with the Court of Session, they said in a statement: “For clarity, our petition does not seek to set aside or unravel the fee payments made to clubs, nor indeed the declaration of champions, or the nomination of clubs who will participate in European competition.

“Instead, the petition primarily seeks to reduce the unfair resolution insofar as it changed the SPFL’s rules on promotion and relegation.”

They have also confirmed they haven’t yet tried to throw a spanner in the works when it comes to the commencement of the new season in August, stating: “If that remedy is not granted by the Court, we seek, in the alternative, awards of compensation relative to the significant financial loss which the unfair relegations will visit upon us.

“As matters stand, we have not asked the court to grant an interim interdict which would prevent next season commencing on August 1. However, we have to reserve our right to do so in the event that becomes necessary.”

This is all now about the play out in the courtroom and with the two clubs dangling the possibility of seeking a delay to the league season, clubs across the country including Celtic will be watching closely.

As we discussed yesterday, any financial compensation that is ruled to be due to the pair will be partly paid by the Hoops, with all 42 clubs in the SPFL potentially paying their share.

It’s been reported by the Edinburgh Evening News that this compensation could reach as much as £6m though there is clearly a long way to go before we reach that kind of payout.

The drama rumbles on!