League reconstruction will soon look like a fantasy

The bun fight in Scottish football, where Partick Thistle have taken counsel opinion and, along with other bottom of the table clubs, threaten legal action if the season is brought to a halt without them being saved from the drop, looks impossible to settle soon.

Hearts and Thistle hope for more than a commitment to discuss the league reconstruction change that will save them from the consequences of being so poor this season.  Both are set to go to court, if necessary, which, I suppose, is an alternative to using your superior financial muscle to outperform smaller clubs.  As things stand, the league will wait until it is safe, then resume, which may delay the start of next season.

There are various event horizons between now and then.  Without football, a cash crunch lies ahead for every club.  For some, that is likely to be a matter of weeks.  Most Scottish clubs will run out of money and available funding by summer.  Celtic can afford to sit tight, as can Partick Thistle – if Christine Weir is prepared to make good any shortfall.

Whatever prize money or loans the SPFL can issue is important but it will not change the bigger picture for the majority of clubs in the top flight.  There, only Celtic have the reserves or funders on the board, to see this crisis out.  The immediate worry for most is to survive three or four months without income, before they can issue season ticket renewals.

Clubs have yet to receive guidance on when attendance at sporting events will be permitted.  When that arrives, talk about league reconstruction, with more mouths to feed in the top flight and throughout, will seem like a fantasy.

There will be significantly less money in Scottish football going forward, we will be able to support fewer full time clubs and if resources are not concentrated within a smaller pool, their dilution through an expanded league will lead to many clubs withering on the vine.

We should sit tight and let the various losers squabble.