East Fife boss Darren Young 'shocked and flabbergasted' at SPFL disciplinary action as Clyde Covid row rumbles on

Stunned East Fife boss Darren Young admitted he was “shocked and flabbergasted” at the SPFL’s decision to launch disciplinary proceedings against his side for failing to fulfil their fixture with Clyde on Tuesday night.

The League One side were set to take on the Bully Wee at Broadwood in the post split match but decided not to play after being informed of a positive Covid test in the Clyde ranks shortly before kick-off.

The match was first delayed to 7.15pm from its original 7pm kick-off time before being shelved altogether with Young and his players alarmed at the prospect of playing and potentially being exposed to the virus.

Clyde then released a statement to indicate they had been cleared to play by the SPFL and SFA’s Joint Response Group, claiming: “East Fife took the decision not to fulfil the fixture, leaving the referee with no option but to postpone the match.”

Raging Young released a statement earlier saying it was “scandalous” that the health of his players, some of whose partners are pregnant, was being compromised and is further enraged over news of the disciplinary action with a hearting set for tomorrow.

He told Record Sport Online: ”We are absolutely shocked and flabbergasted that the SPFL have taken this action but we will now wait to see what comes of it.”

East Fife chairman Jim Stevenson added: “We accept we didn’t play the game but the reasons behind it are obvious. We will have to wait and see what they are going to say to us and we won’t be saying anything further.”

Clyde claimed in a statement that the Joint Response Group gave the game the green light following a “review” but Young believes that Scottish FA’s Chief Medical Consultant Dr John MacLean - a former Bully Wee employee - was contacted by Clyde officials but that the group wasn’t consulted as a collective.

Now the league have opted to commence disciplinary proceedings against East Fife with a hearing fast tracked to Thursday.

An SPFL statement read: "Following the call-off of the SPFL League 1 fixture between Clyde and East Fife last night, the SPFL has today (28 April) announced that disciplinary proceedings have commenced against East Fife for failing to fulfil the fixture.

"The disciplinary hearing will be held before a Sub-Committee of the Board of the SPFL on Thursday 29 April."