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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Gary Ralston & Liam Bryce

SPFL proposal finally passes - paving way for Celtic to be crowned champions

Dundee have voted YES to the SPFL's season-ending proposal in a dramatic twist to an historic Scottish football saga.

Their belated ballot will bring the Championship, League One and League Two to an immediate conclusion - with the Premiership now poised to follow suit, potentially crowning Celtic champions and relegating Hearts.

The vote declares Dundee United as winners of the Championship, with Raith Rovers wrapping up League One and Cove Rangers emerging as champions from League Two.

The Dens Park outfit held the key to the governing body's plan to end the lower league season after their position was not clarified before Friday's requested 5pm deadline.

Dundee's acceptance will now also release almost £9million in prize money to shield clubs against the financial hardship imposed by the coronavirus pandemic.

It comes after they released a statement on Tuesday admitting it was their original intention to vote no but decided to pause after the dramatic events of last Friday.

They were critical of the SPFL's proposal but have been pushing for league reconstruction and insist they were fighting for the good of Scottish football as a whole, saying it was unfair on others to be relegated.

But they have decided to vote yes and that will relegate the likes of Partick Thistle and Stranraer if reconstruction plans aren't agreed on.

Celtic look set to be on for 10 in a row next season (Getty Images)

Confirmation follows Record Sport's exclusive revelation on Monday that club chief John Nelms was set to back the SPFL resolution in a remarkable u-turn.

Rangers had submitted a members' resolution which would have seen interest free loans issued to clubs against future prize money, but it wasn't deemed competent and the SPFL said in a statement on Sunday that no new resolution had been drafted.

But the biggest blow has undoubtedly been dealt to the likes of Hearts, Partick Thistle and Stranraer, with all three now facing the drop.

Jambos owner Ann Budge had previously threatened legal action if her club were sent down, and the resolution affords the SPFL the power to do that at a later date.

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