SPFL make huge Premiership announcement as Dundee vote YES

Dundee’s vote brought an end to the three lower leagues and now the SPFL has made a huge announcement regarding the future of the Premiership.

Dundee’s vote in favour of the SPFL’s motion meant that the three lower leagues of Scottish football – Championship, League One and League Two – are gonna be declared complete as things stand without the rest of the matches being played at all.

The global outbreak of the coronavirus has meant that all football has been forced into suspension with no realistic return date in sight as the number of cases continue to grow around the world. Thus it seems like the best decision at this point of time to conclude the leagues so that the prize money can be handed out by the SPFL to clubs who are going through a period of serious financial strain.

Clubs like Rangers and Hearts were completely against the motion though. Hearts were in the relegation zone and wanted to avoid relegation at all costs. Steven Gerrard’s side on the other hand were concerned with somehow preventing Celtic from lifting a ninth straight league title, something they had earned after going 13 points clear.

But it looks like that Hearts’ problem could be solved even if the leagues are concluded as SPFL seem open to a restructuring. Their official site released a statement that said:

"The SPFL board has also committed to consult on possible league restructuring in time for season 2020/21 around an expanded Premiership model and has appointed Hearts chair Ann Budge and Hamilton Academical chair Les Gray to jointly lead a reconstruction task force, bringing in other football figures to provide input and support. The SPFL executive will provide all possible services and support to make the work of the task force a success.The resolution also gives authority to the board to make a decision on the remainder of the Ladbrokes Premiership season and the board is committed to consulting with Premiership clubs before any such decision is made."

It would certainly be a huge financial loss for clubs if they are relegated and it will sting even more if it is done so despite all the games not being played. Thus, a restructuring of the leagues is something that the SPFL should certainly consider.