Hearts and Partick Thistle learned this afternoon that their case against the SPFL wouldn't proceed in court.
Lord Clark ruled at the Court of Session that the matter should be referred to the Scottish FA for arbitration.
Both clubs had pushed for the matter to be heard in a court of law, with QC David Thomson arguing on Thursday that it was of "significant public interest and concern".
However legal representatives for the SPFL, and promoted clubs Dundee United, Raith Rovers and Cove Rangers put forward the case for arbitration.
And ultimately Lord Clark decided it was a matter the Scottish Football Association should be dealing with.
So what next for Hearts and Partick?
Well, the Scottish FA will now need to put together an independent panel for tribunal. It is expected that this will take place as a matter of urgency given the sensitive time frame, and impending start to the Scottish Premiership season on the weekend 1 and 2 August.
This panel will be made up of three people, and all documents relating to the case will be shared with them – including details relating to the SPFL season-ending vote.
According to the Daily Record the first two will be chosen by the SFA before they then select a third person. All three will have a legal background.
In a statement on Wednesday afternoon, the SPFL welcomed the decision, and said they'd begin preparing for arbitration.
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A spokesman for the SPFL said: “We welcome today's decision at the Court of Session that this case should be dealt with under the Scottish FA’s arbitration process. We will now prepare for the Scottish FA arbitration.”
Hearts and Partick Thistle wanted relegations to be stopped, and failing this say they should be awarded £10million in compensation combined – £8million for Hearts and £2million for Thistle.
Their complaint centred around the SPFL league-ending vote which took place in April.
The clubs have yet to respond to the ruling, but we'll bring you all the very latest when we get it.
