It was the verdict Scottish football had been waiting for and it has come in this morning. Hearts and Partick Thistle’s dispute and appeal over relegation have been thrown out and both clubs allegations have now been confirmed as reported by the BBC.
Hearts and Thistle took their grievance outside of football governance and in doing so broke the terms of their membership. It was referred back to an SFA arbitration committee who have confirmed today that the clubs relegations stand.
Hearts were woeful all season and the shutdown expedited their trip back down to the championship. Partick Thistle will feel hard done by, as they were only bottom by a point with a game in hand. It has been unfortunate but unprecedented times have caused these issues.
Ann Budge will no doubt be drafting a statement but now she and her club must deal with the reality of having such a poor season. Robbie Neilson and Craig Gordon have gone from the Premier League to the Championship.
The league can now start with no issues and Dundee Utd will be playing their football in the top flight. Celtic kick off their campaign on Sunday.
My sympathy is with Partick Thistle, who I thought should have at least been given the opportunity for a play-off decider. As for Hearts, they deserve the outcome, terrible performances, and equally terrible management and administration. The fact that they both broke the code of conduct, they should consider themselves lucky not to be banished to the lowest league.