Ann Budge says Hearts will not vote for SPFL proposal

Hearts owner
Ann Budge has said the club will not be voting in favour of the SPFL’s proposal
to end the 2019/20 season now saying “surely it cannot be impossible for
Scottish Football’s Governing bodies to modify rules to get things done”

Hearts are four points adrift at the foot of the Ladbrokes Premiership. The SPFL’s proposal is for the season for  the Championship and Leagues One and Two to be curtailed now with teams promoted/relegated on their present league standings. If the proposal is approved it is likely a similar decision on the Premiership will follow.

Hearts last
night issued the following statement from Mrs Budge on the club’s official
website:

“Following the SPFL briefings held today and having now had the
opportunity (post meeting) to read the written resolution being proposed, I can
confirm that Heart of Midlothian will not be voting in favour of the proposal
as it stands.

Over the past 24 hours, in advance of today’s
meetings, a number of Clubs have been discussing possible options and sharing
ideas.  Many of those Clubs believe, as we do, that a decision of such
magnitude requires significantly more discussion and debate than has been made
available to us.

I absolutely understand that finding an equitable
outcome for all will not be easy.  However, I firmly believe that we must
try to find a solution which ensures that no Club should be penalised as a
consequence of these exceptional circumstances.  

It was emphasised today that some clubs,
particularly those in the lower Leagues, need funds to be released to help them
navigate their way through this exceptional situation.  I do not accept
however, that this resolution needs to be passed in order to release those
funds.  If the Government can change the Laws of the Land, within 24
hours, to cope with this crisis, then surely it cannot be impossible for
Scottish Football’s Governing bodies to modify rules to get things done. 
This is a time for pragmatism, not rules.  There are other ways of
addressing the current financial challenges and as such we will be supporting
the Members Resolution being put forward by Rangers.

I wrote to the SPFL on the 15th March, asking that
all 42 clubs be given the opportunity and time to discuss this situation
fully.  That has not happened, and we now find ourselves once again in
apparent disarray.  For the avoidance of doubt, I am not pointing fingers
at the SPFL Executive, nor indeed at the Board, as I know how much effort has
gone into trying to find a way through this totally unprecedented
situation.  However, an issue of this scale was always going to demand
full involvement of the member Clubs.

I also asked that we try to see this as an
opportunity to look at whether a league restructure, so often talked about,
could help us through this difficult time.  I was disappointed to read in
the papers issued today that it will be considered, but it was also stated that
“…it is very difficult to achieve consensus behind any restructuring proposal,
let alone quickly”.  This is an emergency situation, and Clubs acknowledge,
and many accept that it needs actions befitting an emergency situation. 
Decisions taken to see us through this emergency do not have to be cast in
stone.  We need to look at the restructuring option with belief that it
will help and not with negativity.

This is a time for all Clubs and SPFL partners to
pull together to find an equitable solution for all. If something is right, it
is right:  if it is wrong, it is wrong. We will continue to lobby for
doing the right thing, both for Clubs and for Scottish Football.”