SPL MEETING

Last updated : 01 April 2004 By Ally

SPL Meeting

At today’s crucial SPL meeting to decide whether to extend the deadline for the ten thousand-seat rule the SPL cleared things up.

The deadline will not be extended, however clubs will be allowed to ground share.

First division leaders Clyde will be allowed to play at Kilmarnock’s Rugby Park next season. Dundee have been given permission to play at neighbouring Tannadice and Falkirk allowed to play at Dunfermline’s East End Park.

This basically means Thistle will be playing first division football next season no matter what. If any team who wins the first division just has to organise a ground share until they have 10,000 seats in place at their own stadium. The ruling makes a complete farce of last seasons decision not to let Falkirk come up as they never had 10,000 seats and allowing Motherwell to stay up.

This is the SPL’s way of avoiding the threats from Thistle and St Mirren who said they would take legal action if the deadline was extended as both clubs had to pay extra money to have their stadia up to standards in time for the deadline.

It will be interesting to see what develops from this, but looks like the first division for the Jags.