SPFL: Stranraer F.C. relegation confirmed

Stranraer's relegation has been confirmed after only 16 of the 42 clubs in Scotland showed support for a league reconstruction.

The SPFL held a vote on Monday morning to see whether there was enough interest in altering format of having 14 teams in the top flight and 10 in the Championship, League One and League Two for next season.

A statement from the board said they had "agreed to draw a line underreconstruction talks", meaning clubs like Stranraer, Hearts and Thistle are now all relegated.

The team sat bottom of the League One table in March when the coronavirus crisis put a halt to the 2019/20 campaign.

Neil Doncaster SPFL Credit: PA

SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster said: "In recent weeks, we've beenconsulting closely with our clubs regarding possible reconstruction and, based on the feedback we received, the board decided to ask all 42 clubs to give their views so that we could have absolute clarity, which we've achieved today.

"Whilst a number of clubs were in favour of a new divisional set-up, thesupport for it was insufficient and we will now move forward with a fixtureprogramme for season 2020-21 based on the current 12-10-10-10 structure.

"Due to the restrictions forced upon us by the coronavirus outbreak, theChampionship clubs also voted overwhelmingly to play each other three times next season, rather than four, which enables a later start to the Championship league season.

"Now that we have a confirmed structure for next season, the SPFL's fixturing team will begin work on the Premiership fixture list, which will start on the weekend of 1 August, and the Championship fixture list, which will start on the weekend of 17 October."