Scottish football in limbo as Dundee delay drags on

Mark Runnacles, getty

Dundee said Tuesday they were still not yet ready to cast what threatens to be a deciding vote on plans to cut short the Scottish season because of the coronavirus.

According to the Scottish Professional League, the second-tier side gave an "unequivocal instruction" not to count their ballot after a technical problem held up the delivery of their vote ahead of a suggested deadline of 1600 GMT on Friday.

Soon afterwards, the SPFL released the results on a resolution that said the three lower leagues would finish in the positions they stood at when play was halted because of the pandemic in March.

A decision on the Scottish Premiership would be taken at a later date if the first proposal was passed.

The Premiership and clubs in League One and Two have backed the plan with the required majority of 75 percent.

But the Championship remains finely balanced, with seven clubs having voted for the plan and two against.

Following days of claim and counter-claim as to what Dundee had done or meant to do, the Dens Park club said they were still undecided despite "positive discussions" about possible league reconstruction.

"Given our discussions and considering all aspects, we don't feel we are in a position to comment further on the resolution that was put forward," said a Dundee statement.

"We understand that this may bring more questions than answers and we will look to give a much more substantial account of the past few days at the conclusion of this process."

Inverness chief executive Scot Gardiner said a Dundee representative had told several Championship rivals they had submitted a 'no' vote eight minutes before the suggested deadline.

But SPFL chairman Murdoch MacLennan, in a letter written to clubs on Sunday and later released to the media, insisted he had been told by Dundee to disregard any such vote.

This saga could in fact drag on for three more weeks as regulations state clubs do in fact have 28 days to cast a ballot.

Soon after Gardiner made his comments, Rangers, second in the Premiership behind leaders Celtic, urged that SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster and legal advisor Rod McKenzie both be suspended, with the Glasgow giants accusing the league of "farcical" conduct.

Rangers insisted Sunday clubs would be "shocked" to know the SPFL has the power to issue loans to cash-strapped teams.

The league has repeatedly said the season must be completed before prize money can be distributed.