Rangers backing was agreed by Partick Thistle before reconstruction Task Force collapse

Thistle were among the clubs supporting Rangers’ unsuccessful push for an independent inquiry into the controversial SPFL vote to end the season - and relegate Thistle to League One.

The decision was effectively rubber-stamped last Friday when the Task Force set up to look at league reconstruction - which might have saved Thistle from the drop - broke up without reaching agreement.

That prompted Thistle to issue a no-holds barred statement condemning their rival clubs - but club chief Gerry Britton later stressed the collapse of the reconstruction discussion had no bearing on their vote at Tuesday’s EGM.

He said: “The vote for an independent investigation isn’t a case of picking sides. Nor is it a failure to admit that an investigation is needed. It is a way for Scottish football to find a way out of the situation it has found itself in since 8th April.

“Unless something is done urgently to deal with the obvious breakdown in trust between parties, football in this country may never fully recover. To do nothing risks leaving our game fatally wounded.

“For the avoidance of doubt, this decision was taken last week before events unfolded around reconstruction.”

In their statement Thistle said they were “deeply angered” at the decision to halt reconstruction and said they were left to pick up the pieces of “thoughtless, selfish behaviour that showed no regard for fellow clubs.”

The club also hit out at Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack who was quoted as saying the strong feeling of the group was to focus all energies on emerging from the current crisis.

“This is patronising nonsense,” said the Thistle statement. “Is Mr Cormack suggesting that no clubs in other leagues have considered what’s happening to Scottish football? If so, that is disrespectful and offensive.”

The statement added: “Our treatment is unprecedented in Scottish football. During this pandemic, across sport, efforts are ongoing to actively try to prevent damage, yet our governing body inexplicably chose a different path. It has singularly failed in its primary duty of care to a member. We have been forgotten, ignored and patronised while senior figures, for reasons best known to themselves, have scuppered a potential solution that did the least harm with no regard to the plight of those who have been betrayed for a second time.”