Hearts have threatened to take legal action over their "unjust" relegation from the Scottish Premiership.
The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) announced on Monday the 2019-20 season could not be completed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Celtic were crowned champions for a record-equalling ninth time in a row and Hearts were consigned to the Championship after the final standings were calculated on a points-per-game basis. Hearts were four points adrift of second-bottom Hamilton Academical with eight games to play when the season was suspended in March amid the Covid-19 crisis.
The Edinburgh club will not go down without a fight and still harbour hopes that the league may be restructured so they will stay in the top-flight.
A club statement said: "We have stated from the outset that we don't believe it is right that any club should be unfairly penalised because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"It was previously indicated that league reconstruction would not generate enough support to pass a vote between member clubs. In recent days a number of positive talks have been held with both the SPFL and member clubs and this topic is currently being revisited.
"Hearts will shortly submit a member's resolution that we believe is a pragmatic solution to the issues the game currently faces and a way forward that the clubs can unite behind. It is our belief that this resolution, if supported, will provide an opportunity to avoid disproportionately disadvantaging - financially and otherwise - any club.
"This is possibly the final chance for our game to stand together, protect each other and not only survive but flourish in the aftermath of this terrible pandemic.
"Players from across all leagues have shown a desire for reconstruction and having already received support from some clubs we are hopeful that this resolution can positively progress Scottish football.
"As previously intimated the club has been taking legal advice throughout this process and are continuing to do so. We hope that the resolution being prepared will avoid the need to go down this route. Legal action would be both time consuming and expensive. However, the cost to the club of relegation would outweigh these considerations.
"To our supporters, we thank you for showing patience and continuing to back the club. We will continue to fight against what we believe is an unjust outcome."
Bacon-man
0
Spfl is corrupt. They have an agenda against rangers and hearts, and every club that opposes them. Their bringing us down. How they can get away with allowing amateur pitches in a professional division is beyond me. If this league is to ever become great, then we need to get rid of the spfl board, and a general revamp, like what the English league had in 1992.
Bacon-man
1
that's not the best way to relegate a team...the financial implications are huge.. they coulda just created a one off season where they promote the ones from the lower league but leave the relegation bound teams in the spl at least for next season.. that will be fair..
But off course the spfl is corrupt, and just had to find a way to further ruin their own league. The spfl board is out to get clubs like rangers and hearts, and every team that has stood up against them in the past.
Bacon-man
0
As a rangers fan I’m genuinely sad to see hearts go down. Those fans deserve better. I wish hearts a good season in the championship and will be hoping they replace one of the teams with p****** pitches. I can’t stand those things.
Seadog66
0
Heartless
Ebie2000
0
I can’t stress this enough!!!! It’s too late to wanna take legal action all these bottom clubs have played bad football and because of that they wanna blame the FA and covid 19 stop being like spoilt little boys you should avoided relegation from the start of the season.
BlueBlackSnake
0
Yes do that, it's not fair to that small team,why are they relegating them with 9 games to play ? stupid Scottish league, infect it's Celtics league.They must add teams from championship not to relagate rubbish
Celtic deserves all nine of their last titles, fair and square.
Bobabcl
4
best solution would be to have the bottom 5 or 6 teams and the top teams of lower league play a knock out tournament to decide who stays up and who goes down.
Mngunirefioe7
1
Yes do that, it's not fair to that small team,why are they relegating them with 9 games to play ? stupid Scottish league, infect it's Celtics league.They must add teams from championship not to relagate rubbish
Cipackn
1
No point in taking legal action you were horrible all season and you deserved to be relegated just get on with it and fight to get back into the SPL
Jiwaiklms
1
is it the leagues fault that the hearts squad was losing games and being at the bottom of the table with 8 games left? the team can only blame themselves for their poor season. it should be a uniformly decision from now on that if the league has to get cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances, then this is what happens to the bottom placed team
AlexanderCalebGamaya
0
Will they take take legal action against corona pandemic???
fizzbizzie
4
that's not the best way to relegate a team...the financial implications are huge.. they coulda just created a one off season where they promote the ones from the lower league but leave the relegation bound teams in the spl at least for next season.. that will be fair..
Bestonwizzy
4
Hearts please take Heart!!! It is not only your league that was canceled, same happened at Ligue 1 nobody sue anyone.. I wiil advice you Just to take Heart Hearts...