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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Pirie

Hibs hero and Albion Rovers boss backs SPFL crisis plan 'for the sake of football'

Albion Rovers boss Kevin Harper has urged clubs to back the SPFL crisis plan to help lower league clubs survive.

If the teams vote through the proposal titles and relegations will be handed out in the lower divisions without another ball being kicked.

The play-off games would also be cancelled and Dundee United,  Raith  and Cove Rangers would be promoted with Partick Thistle and Stranraer sent down on the basis of a points per game average.

The former Hibee and current boss at Clfitonhill insists teams should back the move nothing that any other plan "is logically looking a bit far-fetched."

Harper told Lanarkshire Live Sport: "With the season and training not happening until June 10 at the earliest, we’re maybe looking at July before we start up against that is the case.

“Then it’s going to have an impact on next season when clubs will financially be really struggling.

"Partick Thistle obviously have a case to be disappointed, but I think it's the correct call to shut down the leagues.

“In my view the only way to end the season is to restructure the divisions in some way. If we hold it into next season

“It’s not like in the Premiership where you can survive for a while with no clear guidance, clubs like Albion Rovers need to know what is happening to survive.

Kevin Harper during his time at Hibs (Daily Record)

“It’s never going to be a solution that suits the very top clubs; you can’t keep everyone happy.

“For the sake of football in Scotland it has to go through.”

Across the area, Lanarkshire Live Sport understands Airdrieonians are in the process of deciding their vote at a meeting this afternoon ahead of the 5pm deadline.

Clyde released a statement last night revealing the League One outfit accept "that this resolution, though not perfect, delivers a degree of certainty and closure in rapidly changing times, which will benefit the club as it negotiates uncharted territory."

Both Motherwell and Hamilton Accies look set to back the move following their New Douglas Park chairman Allan Maitland and Steelmen supremo Jim McMahon saying they would support resolution this week.

Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport on Twitter via @LanLiveSport, like us on  Facebook or find us on  Instagram for the latest sports news, pictures and video.

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