Relegated Stranraer blast 'grossly unfair' decision to end football season

Stranraer have branded a decision to conclude the Scottish Professional Football League season outside the top flight as 'grossly unfair' and the club is backing a move by Partick Thistle to seek legal action.

With the Blues sitting bottom of the League One table when the coronavirus crisis put a halt to the 2019/20 campaign it means they are now relegated to League Two.

In a statement the club said: "At this unprecedented time we felt unanimously as a committee that no football club, Stranraer FC or any other, should be at a detriment due to this horrendous situation.

"It is grossly unfair that any club should be relegated from their respective league whilst a quarter of the season still remains.

"Stranraer FC fully support the legal submission shared by Partick Thistle with all member clubs and the SPFL on Tuesday 14th April in that the current SPFL proposal is legally flawed, and the SPFL’s failure to adhere to a proper process to date is most definitely subject to legal challenge."

Meanwhile Championship Queen of the South who were second bottom of the division and on an extended run of poor form when matches were suspended are now assured of starting next season in Scotland's second flight.

Annan Athletic's status is also unaffected by the controversial decision to terminate the season with immediate affect which was reached following a vote by the Scottish Professional Football League's clubs.

The Galabank side were in seventh position in League Two and will remain in the same division next season.

SPFL chairman Murdoch MacLennan said: "With the turmoil and uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 outbreak, there was always going to be a highly-charged and passionate debate about how we secure the future of Scottish football.

"It is no exaggeration to say that this was an existential matter for Scottish clubs, with many of them telling us they were at real risk of going under unless the situation was resolved very quickly, so I'm pleased that the game has moved decisively."