SPFL need eyes on EPL Project Restart

The progress of ‘Project Restart’ in the Premier League in England will be watched closely by the SPFL.  Three clubs there have opened training facilities for players, with plans for full training to take place from 18 May three weeks ahead of the first closed doors fixture.

I suspect these plans will be aborted by subsequent government advice, but if England play out their season and Scotland don’t, there will be an outcry, legitimately so.  We want to play the season to its completion, win the title on the field, shut the faces of the perennial losers.  It would also allow us to dispense with any thoughts of league reconstruction to save Hearts from relegation.

A hard deadline has been set by Uefa of 25 May for leagues to submit plans to restart or end their seasons.  That gives the SPFL four weeks to establish their own Project Restart, with government clearance, or call the season.  We should take as much time as is available – move with the herd, as we suggested earlier.

The Dutch, who moved early by awarding Uefa places for next season based on current league positions, but declined to award the title, relegate or promote, are now in a legal quagmire, as they have used sporting merit to determine some outcomes but not all.  This crisis will not reward pioneers.

The goings-on in England will be more pertinent to what the SPFL does than the 12 May EGM.  I suspect the League’s board already know they have the 11 required votes in the bag, but they will want to win the popular vote as well.