Hearts’ fans await club’s response to relegation announcement

Hearts’ fans are desperately awaiting a response from the
club after today’s SPFL Board consigned them to the Championship whilst
crowning Celtic as champions.

The SPFL board were given the authority to call the Premiership after the passing of the controversial ballot to end the lower leagues.

The league’s executive had committed to consulting clubs before making a decision, and were part of a meeting of the 12 top-flight teams and Championship winners Dundee United on Friday.

Fears that such a decision would prevent European football
next season have been eased after the SPFL and Scottish FA received the letter
of assurance from Uefa that an early finish will not mean forfeiting European
places.

Hearts’ Chair Ann Budge previously said: “Please also be
reassured that while the Premiership has not yet been called, should it be so,
with Hearts expelled as a result, we will be taking further advice on what
options are open to us and to other clubs in the same position, to formally
challenge this outcome.”

Former Chair Leslie Deans believes that Hearts’ only option
is to go down the legal route.

He told BBC Sportsound: “I would now be taking legal
action against the SPFL and the member clubs who voted to eject Hearts from the
league. The grounds of action, when the clubs form a common purpose, namely
playing against each other, they have a duty of care for each other in common
law. They failed in that and that failure leads directly to the ejection of
Hearts from the league.

“Add to that the wilful misrepresentation by the SPFL
in respect of the £10million possible claw back that’s been commented on which
was not within the clubs’ knowledge when they delivered their verdict. And you
add in addition the incompetence of the decision which allowed Dundee to change
their vote when they were not permitted to do so. That was a point very clearly
made by the QC in his opinion for Partick Thistle and that opinion, I believe,
is shared by the QC who has advised Rangers.

“These are the grounds for the action we have outlined
against the clubs and the SPFL.”