Hearts say SPFL chose to 'expel' them from Premiership as new league reconstruction plan emerges

Hearts owner Ann Budge is unhappy with the SPFL's decision to send her club down.

Hearts intend to fight back after claiming they have been ‘expelled’ from the Premiership by the Scottish Professional Football League.

An SPFL board meeting formally called a halt to the 2019/20 top flight, relegating the Edinburgh club to the Championship and awarding Celtic the title.

Hearts are considering legal action and stand to lose up to £3million if they spend next season in Scotland’s second tier. First, they want to exhaust all possibilities for expanding the Premiership from 12 to 14 clubs.

Owner Ann Budge is working on a proposal to that effect after the SPFL agreed with clubs that the remaining matches of the campaign could not be played following the coronavirus outbreak.

Hearts released a statement shortly after the decision was announced, which read: “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.”