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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark McDougall

Hearts reiterate legal action threat as they slam decision to 'expel' them from Premiership

Hearts have warned the SPFL that reconstruction must happen to keep them in the top flight or they will take the issue to court after clubs decided to relegate them from the Premiership.

The Tynecastle club are left fizzing at the decision to send them down and say they will submit a resolution to the SPFL board that they say will ‘unite’ clubs.

But they have promised supporters that they will continue to take legal action if no reconstruction takes place in the coming weeks ahead of next season.

Some suggestions have been made that the cost of legal action could stop them but the club insist the cost of relegation to the Championship means it's a necessary fight.

A statement said: "Following today’s decision to end the 2019/20 Premiership season and expel Heart of Midlothian Football Club from the top flight, the club would like to provide a brief update to both its fans and the wider Scottish football audience.

"We have stated from the outset that we don’t believe it is right that any club should be unfairly penalised because of the Covid-19 pandemic. It was previously indicated that league reconstruction would not generate enough support to pass a vote between member clubs.  In recent days a number of positive talks have been held with both the SPFL and member clubs and this topic is currently being revisited.

"Hearts will shortly submit a member’s resolution that we believe is a pragmatic solution to the issues the game currently faces and a way forward that the clubs can unite behind. It is our belief that this resolution, if supported, will provide an opportunity to avoid disproportionately disadvantaging - financially and otherwise - any club.

"This is possibly the final chance for our game to stand together, protect each other and not only survive but flourish in the aftermath of this terrible pandemic. Players from across all leagues have shown a desire for reconstruction and having already received support from some clubs we are hopeful that this resolution can positively progress Scottish football.

"As previously intimated the club has been taking legal advice throughout this process and are continuing to do so. We hope that the resolution being prepared will avoid the need to go down this route. Legal action would be both time consuming and expensive. However the cost to the club of relegation would outweigh these considerations.

"To our supporters, we thank you for showing patience and continuing to back the club. We will continue to fight against what we believe is an unjust outcome."

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