SPFL set to challenge Hearts' & Partick Thistle's £10m court petition in the next 48 hours

The Scottish Professional Football League are expected to challenge Hearts’ and Partick Thistle’s legal action against relegation by 5pm this Thursday.

Officials at Hampden Park were given seven days to respond to the petition and must lodge their defence with the Court of Session in Edinburgh in the next two days.

If a response is submitted, all concerned must then seek a further order from the court either for a period of adjustment or to assign a hearing. That could mean a civil case being heard in the court’s Outer House in the first instance.

Hearts and Thistle want their relegations reversed or they are claiming £8million and £2million respectively in compensation from the SPFL.

The SPFL board are prepared to argue that both teams were relegated because more than 80 per cent of SPFL member clubs voted for a resolution to end the 2019/20 season early after coronavirus struck.

Hearts, Partick and Stranraer found themselves prematurely demoted as a result of the controversial ballot in April, in which Dundee were allowed to alter their original ‘no’ vote to ‘yes’ and cast the decisive strike.

Dundee United, Raith Rovers and Cove Rangers were all promoted, whilst Celtic were awarded the Premiership title. Hearts, Partick and Stranraer feel they were unfairly treated by being relegated with a number of league matches outstanding.

Officials at Tynecastle Park and Firhill submitted a joint legal challenge against the decision in the Court of Session last Wednesday and are now awaiting a formal response from the SPFL.

Both clubs threatened to apply for an interdict to stop the new Scottish football season starting on August 1, but have so far not gone down that route.

Attempts to keep them in their previous divisions failed when league reconstruction talks collapsed earlier this month.

A message from the editor: Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you. In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper. Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the highest standards in the world. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper. Thank you. Joy Yates, Editorial Director.