Plans for new 14-team Scottish Premiership “dead in the water”

A 15-person league reconstruction working group – co-chaired by Hearts owner Ann Budge and Hamilton Accies chief Les Gray – had been looking at the possibility of moving towards a 14-10-10-10 or a 14-14-14 set-up.

But those plans now appear to be dead in the water after Premiership clubs indicated there isn’t enough support for the proposed changes at this time.

The move means that Budge’s Hearts – four points adrift at the bottom of the Premiership with eight games remaining when football was suspended in March – face being relegated to the Championship if the 2019-20 campaign is ended prematurely due to the coronavirus crisis.

At a meeting of the 12 top tier clubs, some decided now was not the time to focus on reconstruction, with the immediate priority being to get back to playing football.

Motherwell – who last played in a 1-1 draw at Hearts on March 7 – were third after 30 games and occupied the second Europa League qualifying first round slot.