So today is the day. D-Day. The Day of Days for Scottish Football (in case you ever wondered the D in D-Day stands for Day). The SPFL vote and Scottish football holds its breath, for some clubs perhaps for the last time.
Nine from twelve from The Scottish Premier league must support the proposal put forward by the SPFL on Wednesday afternoon. Eight from the Championship must follow suit, as well as 15 more between Leagues One and Two.
Hit those numbers and the SPFL’s solution to protect the future of Scottish football, until the threat of Covid-19 subsides, is ratified and Scottish football can plan for some sort of future. Miss the numbers required and we’re back to the drawing board, weeks of further uncertainty and the danger that a few of the 42 member clubs who vote today will not be with us by the time a second vote comes around or certainly when season 20/21 begins.
To recap, the 42 member clubs will be asked to approve the following resolution to end the league season as it stands for all leagues bar the Scottish Premiership:
* The immediate termination of Season 2019/20 for the Ladbrokes Championship, League 1 and League 2, without the remaining fixtures in the League being played;
* All play-off competitions being cancelled; and
* Final season placings to be determined by the number of points per game earned by each club in the matches they have played.
Huge day ahead in Scotland. Let’s hope that the survival of many Scottish clubs is at the forefront of clubs minds when they vote… unprecedented times and we all understand self interest but it’s right to do what’s right for the majority in this case for the good of the game…
— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) April 10, 2020
In terms of The Scottish Premiership there is a further recommendation. This one is to allow Scottish football to fall in line with UEFA’s direction that they be involved in the decision making process of concluding their domestic top divisions:
“The resolution also recommends that matches in the Ladbrokes Premiership remain postponed for the time being, to give the best possible opportunity for the remaining 2019/20 fixtures to be played.
However, if the SPFL Board determines that the remaining Premiership matches cannot be played, the Ladbrokes Premiership would also be terminated, with final season placings determined on the same basis.”
This particular delay it seems, has come at the behest of Peter Lawwell and Celtic. The Scottish Premiership was going to be concluded in the same manner as the other leagues until only a few days ago.
Will prominent Hamilton Accies shareholder Douglas Park suggest that his other club vote against the SPFL proposal tomorrow? If they do I’m sure Les Gray will resign from his seat on the board of the SPFL, won’t he?
— Joe McHugh (@videocelts) April 9, 2020
Lawwell and Celtic were somewhat spooked however at the threats emanating from UEFA’s corridors of power. In particular the threats made to the Belgian Jupiler League after they broke ranks and declared their league without UEFA giving advance approval. That didn’t go down well with Mr Ceferin. It also caused the hold up in the announcement.
Belgium’s slapped wrist and the threat made that, without consultation clubs risked being excluded from next year’s European competitions, means for now at least there will be a delay.
UEFA meet again in two weeks, enough time then for Scottish football to be seen to fall into line and seek approval from the governing body. This is a formality. It’s simply a case of being seen to be in control from UEFA and Celtic didn’t want to risk any animosity or expose themselves to reprisals. If we play along UEFA will support the SPFL decision. They save face, Celtic got time to ensure European football was protected and the SPFL get what they need. Clarity.
Judgment Day – Yesterday’s Scottish FA decision designed to focus minds today…https://t.co/k3d9MLbmyN
— The Celtic Star Editor (@CelticStarMag) April 10, 2020
Some clubs of course will have concerns over this. That has been evident ever since the proposal was released. Yet provision for ironing out difficulties has been included.
Restructure is a possibility but there is no time to debate that and save smaller clubs from financial meltdown. That risk is immediate, we are talking days not weeks. However the undertaking to revisit league reconstruction during the shutdown and ahead of the 20/21 season staring is in place. The SPFL statement said this on that very issue:
“If the resolution is approved, the SPFL has also committed to consulting with Clubs over the possibility of League restructuring ahead of Season 2020/21”.
This commitment you would hope would allow time for a debate to be had around restructuring the leagues in such a way as to avoid punishing clubs. Even if only for a season or two it may mean expanded divisions would allow relegation to be removed from the current scenario. Time however is of the essence for smaller clubs and the SPFL proposal is as it is, to avoid a rushed debate. This delay will at least allow the opportunity for a proper in depth discussion on the future structure of all the Scottish leagues, rather than a quick sticking plaster solution.
One thing yesterday’s Rangers statement, which expressed such concern over the financial plight of clubs, failed to mention is that 40 of the 42 @SPFL clubs qualify for up to £5m in gov’t loans via the CBILS.
Any guesses which 2 clubs don’t qualify? pic.twitter.com/rx8ilpLGvQ
— John Bradshaw (@JBLuvsCeltic) April 10, 2020
This hasn’t been enough for Hearts or ‘the’ Rangers who have been nothing if not consistent.
Hearts are terrified the vote is passed and there is not enough time to reach a restructuring option that saves them from the relegation they understandably fear. While ‘Rangers’ would like a null and void league and the prize money handed out.
Whilst Hearts position makes sense and you have to respect their stance, ‘the’ Rangers position is frankly laughable. Unless you cut to the quick and realise they are pandering to their support’s overwhelming need to deny Celtic a title, while at the same time praying the resolution passes even as they vote against it, as the cash they so badly needs will come rolling in, while they save face with their supporters. What a mess that club is in. They are playing Russian roulette with Scottish football to save face with their rank and file. This position could well deny Celtic a title, yet it could end their club. A political stance bereft of common sense and chock full of bigoted stupidity.
The vote is at 5 pm tomorrow, by which time we’ll know whether Scottish football has put aside its usual self-serving politics and saved itself, or whether self-interest – or in the case of ‘the’ Rangers, rank idiocy – has left Scottish football a few clubs lighter by the start of next season.
For some the thought of green and white ribbons on the league trophy will be a bitter pill to swallow, with it being for nine in a row it may even get stuck in the throat for others. Despite this clubs have to look at this vote as an opportunity to save football in Scotland, allow clubs to survive and buy enough time to include all 42 clubs in a debate around genuine restructure, before the new season begins.
This is the only show in town, even ‘the’ Rangers know that. Nine from the Premiership, Eight from the Championship and 15 from Leagues One and Two combined. That’s the numbers we need to vote in favour of an SPFL proposal that saves Scottish football, anything less and the misrepresented threats of Armageddon from 2012 may be all too real in 2020.
A decision is expected to be announced next week officially but chances are we’ll all know by 6pm whether it’s time for Celtic to put the champagne on ice. It’s rather hard to keep a secret in the world of Scottish football. We’ll know soon enough who saved Scottish football or who nailed the coffin lid.
Niall J
Here’s one proposal from @Moo_Ted on Twitter that looks at how the games could be played to a conclusion. It’s tight but just about possible…”Given that SFA have said “no football until June 10th“ here’s my best guess as to how we finish the premiership and the Scottish cup as quickly and as reasonably (under the circumstances) as possible . Of course it all hinges on this lockdown ,” he tweeted.
Let’s hear your thoughts on all of this. Please email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk and we’ll include in a subsequent article later today.
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