Falkirk claim six Premiership clubs killed off league reconstruction talks

Falkirk claim six Premiership clubs voted against league reconstruction which has killed off any chance of Caley Thistle playing in the top flight next season.

Last night, any possibility of league reconstruction in Scottish football next season was brought to an end after Premiership clubs failed to give their support to proposals from the reconstruction task force.

Proposals included increasing the number of teams in the Premiership to 14, which would have seen Caley Thistle, who were second in the Championship promoted, and Hearts avoiding relegation from the top flight.

Falkirk chairman Gary Deans released a statement last night saying six Premiership clubs were against league reconstruction. It is also reported three clubs were in favour of continuing talks while three clubs abstained.

It is not officially known how clubs voted, but Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack spoke on behalf of the Premiership clubs stating they wanted to focus their energies on emerging from the crisis due to the pandemic and now was not the right time to consider immediate reconstruction midst a crisis.

He also said the group was willing to engage in and pick up on these discussions once the country is passed COVID-19.

Falkirk were in second place in League One, one point behind champions Raith Rovers with eight games still to play when the season was ended.

The decision means Caley Thistle will face playing in the Championship next season after finishing the season in second place with 81 per cent of SPFL clubs already voting to scrap the play-offs this season.

Highland League champions Brora Rangers will also miss out on promotion due to the decision.

The Sutherland club, along with Lowland League champions Kelty Hearts, were furious with the outcome, stating it was a dark moment for the pyramid system.

The Premiership season remains postponed, but if it is ruled the top flight can't be finished, bottom side Hearts will be relegated while Ross County, currently in tenth place, will stay up.

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