This further suspension of football below the SPFL Championship all but ends any hope of the League 1 season being completed.

I am mostly looking at this from a Partick Thistle perspective but much of this applies to Scottish football in general.

[Thread]

This latest delay and it’s likely impact on our ability to finish the season really frustrates me as Thistle raised concerns of this last summer during reconstruction “talks”.

We are on the verge of consignment to League 1 due to a season curtailment for the second year running.

This isn’t to disrespect League 1, it has been an interesting division to be involved in from a sporting perspective.

The problem for the club comes from the financial side. Thistle have faced significant shortfalls in income compared to Championship clubs. For example: https://twitter.com/jenky___/status/1348600635646742532

The problem we have is that L1, L2 and below’s seasons face a premature end due to a lack of weeks in the football calendar to play the games.

Last season’s PPG solution simply isn’t fit for purpose in a season where teams such as Clyde & Dumbarton have only played 9 fixtures.

A solution I suspect will be suggested is no pro/rel for the 20/21 L1+L2 season.

Issue here is do you relegate from Champ?

If no, the remainder of the championship season is all but pointless for about half of the division. They may as well forfeit and save money from testing.

My other issue here is that Thistle are subject to another season of far lower income and being a far less attractive destination for incoming playing talent. These factors can have a long term impact on the club’s fortunes.

I don’t want to be preaching of injustice without suggesting a possible solution though. I simply can’t see a fairer way around it so my suggestion has to be that dreaded word in Scottish football:

Reconstruction.

My proposed solution is a move from the current 12-10-10-10 structure to a 14-14-14 at least on a temporary basis. This would help to see us past this period of COVID uncertainty & the problems it has caused regarding season curtailments. This would see nobody unfairly relegated.

The decisions on the teams moving between Premiership and Championship is up for debate. You could keep the automatic relegation spot, you could spare them, you could make the relegation spot a playoff. Whatever works for the clubs involved and can be agreed (lol).

I know people are sick of reconstruction debates, so I’d like to know what people think is the fairest way to solve this.

I just can’t see how some teams would cram 18+ fixtures between March and May, assuming the leagues resume in March!

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@PureFitbaw @OwenJamesBrown @gregthewellfan @terracepodcast @ChrisSamson18 @CammyAnders @EuanBRobertson @JamesCairneyHT @TBLowerLeague

If you guys have any thoughts on this feel free to share!