Partick Thistle have released a statement suggesting that the financial cost of raising a legal action against the SPFL’s league-ending proposals means they’ll likely have to accept their fate.
Eyes had turned to the Firhill club after Partick previously produced a legal opinion which suggested there were grounds for a legal challenge should the SPFL continue with the vote.
But after the SPFL controversially accepted Dundee’s altered Yes vote and relegated Thistle, the Jags have been forced to reconsider their position.
The Glasgow club are bitterly disappointed with the outcome of the situation but with the threat of prize monies being held up also on their mind, they’ve decided to wave the white flag.
The decision is a particularly heart-wrenching one for Thistle who have cruelly been relegated despite sitting two points adrift of safety with a game in hand in the Championship.
“We can’t be responsible for pushing even one club to the brink,” said a club statement.
“If we were to take this action to court, there is a risk that might stop the release of much-needed monies to those clubs on Friday. That’s a step too far for us.
“To pursue court action costs money and considerable time – so we have had to consider carefully whether both could be better spent on securing the club’s future and protecting the livelihoods of those we employ.
“In deciding what our next steps should be, that was our first priority.
“It would be hypocritical of us to have espoused ‘do no harm’ as a reason why we shouldn’t be relegated and then do exactly that.”
The comments of Partick come after Stranraer chairman Iain Dougan repeated the disappointment in the decision but also that challenging it is too expensive [BBC Sport].
Challenges involving money have formed a significant part of the entire shameful episode in Scotland.
Hard-up clubs were forced to vote in favour of the proposals in order for prize money to be released.
However, Rangers would later reveal that the SPFL could also release money via emergency loans for clubs in desperate need of cash.
Hearts chair Ann Budge believes that hamstringing clubs financially was “an attempt to unduly influence the outcome of the vote” [Hearts].
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