The Scottish Championship, League One and League Two seasons are over after a controversial resolution to call the divisions as they stand was finally passed on Wednesday.
The Scottish
Professional Football League (SPFL) needed 75 percent support from clubs across
the top four divisions for the resolution to progress.
Championship side
Dundee had the fate of the season in their hands after failing to submit their
vote by the requested deadline on Friday.
However, by finally
approving the plan, they paved the way for city rivals Dundee United to be
promoted to the Premiership, along with Raith Rovers from League One and Cove
Rangers from League Two.
Under the plans,
Partick Thistle and Stranraer will be relegated from League One and League Two
respectively.
The resolution also
allows the SPFL board to call the Premiership as it stands if it determines the
remaining games cannot be played.
That would see
Celtic crowned champions for a record-equalling ninth consecutive season and
Hearts relegated.
Football in Scotland
has been suspended until at least June 10 due to the coronavirus crisis.
However, the plan
has been highly controversial and met with stiff resistence from Celtic’s
rivals Rangers and those clubs that face relegation.
Rangers called for
SPFL Chief Executive Neil Doncaster to be suspended on Saturday after what they
described as “serious questions concerning the corporate governance of the
SPFL.”
“Whilst more than
80 percent of clubs agreed with the directors’ written resolution, it’s clear
that others were strongly opposed,” said SPFL chairman Murdoch MacLennan.
“There has been
talk of voiding the season, making emergency loans and so on, but what has been
agreed today is not just the best way forward, it was the only realistic way
forward and I now call on all 42 clubs to move forward in a constructive and
positive way.”
The SPFL claimed
ending the season was the only way prize money due to cash-stricken clubs could
be released, although that has been contested by Rangers and Partick Thistle.
However, those
clubs facing relegation could still be saved by further talks that will now
take place over league reconstruction.
A popular proposal
among clubs and fans would see two teams promoted to the top four leagues and
no side relegated.
“The SPFL board has
also committed to consult on possible league restructuring in time for season
2020/21 around an expanded Premiership model,” the SPFL added in a statement.
