Hearts to take part in discussions surrounding mothballing Championship as Ann Budge's reconstruction proposals due to be submitted

Hearts will be involved in discussions about mothballing the 2020/21 Scottish Championship season, with the ten clubs from that division due to meet today to discuss how they can commence the campaign.

The Jambos now have second-tier status following the SPFL’s decision to end the season prematurely due to the coronavirus outbreak, with Hearts finishing bottom of the Premiership as a result. Tynecastle owner Ann Budge is trying to salvage the club’s top-flight position with a second round of league reconstruction talks – her paper is due to be seen by all SPFL members today – or, if that fails, potential legal action, but for now Hearts must act as a Championship outfit and will be involved in today’s video conference.

There has been some suggestion that the Championship’s start date could be delayed as late as January 2021, with many clubs in that division unable to operate without gate receipts. Football fans are not expected back into stadiums for some months until lockdown and social distancing measures ease.

The Premiership is very likely to return earlier due to the television deals in place, principally with Sky Sports, and the income that brings to partially offset closed-door matches, but with no such monies coming in for clubs beneath that division, provisions may need to be made to allow those teams to survive.

Last week Dunfermline Athletic – who will be in the Championship next season – released 17 players due to the crisis, admitting that such a measure was needed to safeguard the future of the club. Without revenue from crowds, these clubs – already struggling due to weeks of inaction - are likely to be further strapped for cash and unable to play players, particularly when the government's furlough scheme alters in August and then comes to an end in October.

The financial pressures clubs beneath the Premiership are experiencing have resulted in a delay to lower leagues starting being mooted. While all clubs would prefer to be playing football as quickly as possible, it needs to be viable for those involved.

The spectre of no football outside of the top flight for some months makes Budge’s reconstruction plans even more pertinent for Hearts. They feel “expulsion” from the Premiership is unjust considering there were still eight matches of the 2019/20 season to be played before it was called. Hearts were four points adrift of 11-placed Hamilton Accies, although they had only won four league games under Craig Levein, Austin MacPhee and then Daniel Stendel.

The fine detail in Budge's plans are is yet unclear, but they are expected to propose a 14 or 16-team top division and ensure that no club is punished due to the season’s premature termination. The Tynecastle chairwoman has been in liaision with the majority of SPFL clubs before publishing her dossier so that it has the best chance of being backed by other members.

Hearts fear they could lose up to £3million if they are relegated, while current manager Daniel Stendel’s contract is invalid outside of the Premiership. The prospect of not playing football again in 2020 would undoubtedly put more financial strain on the club.