Rangers strongly criticised plans unveiled on Wednesday to terminate the divisions below the Premiership, warning of “severe consequences for the Scottish game”.
With play halted
due to the coronavirus, the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL)
announced proposals to determine final placings by points per game in league
matches played to date by each club.
The resolution, to
be voted on by clubs, also recommends the top tier remains postponed for the
time being, although final placings would be determined by the same system if
the SPFL’s board determines matches cannot be played.
That would see
Celtic crowned champions for the ninth successive season and Hearts relegated,
but the immediate impact of the plans would be relegation for Partick Thistle
from the second-tier Championship and Stranraer from League One.
Steven Gerrard’s
second-placed Gers, 13 points behind Celtic, said in a statement they would
oppose “in the strongest possible terms” any attempt to railroad changes to existing
rules.
They said they
would immediately propose a member’s resolution that would release prize money
to be distributed to all clubs throughout Scotland urgently.
Rangers said
forcing through change “without due care and attention” would have severe
consequences for the Scottish game.
“Nothing is more
important than protecting the future of every club in Scotland as we are
cognisant that this has a direct impact upon people’s livelihoods,” the
statement said.
“It is abhorrent
that certain clubs could be unfairly relegated if the current SPFL proposals
were implemented. We must future-proof the Scottish game.”
Partick, bottom of
the Championship, said they would not accept the proposal as it stood, adding
it needed more scrutiny and debate.
Dundee United would
be promoted to the Premiership if the resolution passed, while Raith Rovers
would move up to the Championship and Cove Rangers would join League One.
European governing
body UEFA has warned national leagues that a failure to complete the current campaign
could lead to exclusion from European competition.
SPFL chief
executive Neil Doncaster said the situation regarding the Premiership “remains
particularly complicated”.
“Everyone is aware
of UEFA’s desire for the family of European football to work together to
resolve the issues that confront us all,” he said.
“We are keen to
work with UEFA and remain in discussion with them over the situation in
Scotland.”