Partick Thistle will not take SPFL to court over relegation row

Partick Thistle have ruled out taking legal action over their enforced relegation - even though lawyers say they have a case.
Firhill looks set to stage third tier football next season unless there is reconstructionFirhill looks set to stage third tier football next season unless there is reconstruction
Firhill looks set to stage third tier football next season unless there is reconstruction

Thistle will be relegated after a change of mind by Dundee ensured an SPFL resolution to end the season, with teams' current placings deemed to be final, received the necessary support.

The club were advised in a legal Opinion by joint counsel that Dundee's original 'no' vote should stand and that they would have a case if they pursued the matter in court.

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But despite being relegated from the Championship even though they were just two points behind second bottom Queen of the South, with a game in hand, Thistle will not be taking the matter any further - because it would cost too much.

A club statement posted on their website said: "To be relegated at any time in a club’s life is, in a sporting context, an enormous setback. You accept your fate, because it was in your hands to change the outcome.

"However, to be relegated in the arbitrary and unjust way we are currently experiencing, with no say in it, is heartbreaking for everyone at Partick Thistle, including staff and players and especially our fans."

The statement added: "However, as a Club, the decision to relegate Thistle is first and foremost about our people and what this might mean for them.

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"To pursue court action costs money and considerable time – so we have had to consider carefully whether both could be better spent on securing the Club’s future and protecting the livelihoods of those we employ. In deciding what our next steps should be, that was our first priority.

Thistle has always lived in the real world so we also looked at the bigger picture of the life-changing pandemic we find ourselves in."

And Thistle concluded: "To our fans, we hope you understand why we have reached this decision.

"No one should regard this as a sign of weakness – it shows our strength and resolution to get through this despite relegation being forced on us. We aren’t doing what’s easy but we are doing what is right for our Club, our people and for clubs across Scotland."

Click here to read the full statement