John McGlynn: Be realistic and end season now with promotion but no relegation, says Raith boss

Professor Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, said on March 12 that he expects the coronavirus outbreak to peak in the UK in about 10 to 14 weeks, with restrictions on sporting events and mass gatherings likely to last even longer.

UEFA responded to the crisis this week by postponing this summer’s Euros until 2021, with a commitment to see all European and domestic club competitions for the current season completed by June 30.

McGlynn believes that is unrealistic and has urged the SFA/SPFL Joint Response Group to make a decision now and declare the season over based on the current standings. 

“If you listen to the chief medical officer, I don’t see us playing any football before June 30,” he said.

“He is telling us this is only going to get worse with a possible peak in around 14 weeks so you would have to question why they have put that date out there.

“It’s a very difficult situation and the big question for Scottish football is, if it doesn’t finish, what do you do?

“Each proposal has a counter-proposal, and there’s positives and negatives to them all. It’s not going to keep everyone happy.

“Yes, everyone wants to finish the season, we’re in the same boat, but realistically, it’s just not practical for that to happen.

“So plan B needs to kick in and you need to have big shoulders to take on those decisions.”

McGlynn’s solution would be for the top two teams in the Championship, League One and League Two all to be promoted, which would see the Premiership expanded to 14 teams, and the current leaders in the Highland and Lowland League, Brora Rangers and Kelty Hearts, filling in at the bottom.

Such a scenario would involve both Raith and Falkirk being promoted to the Championship, with the top two in League One currently separated by a point.

“Some people might say that’s self-interest, I would suggest I’m just being practical,” McGlynn said. 

“It would leave no relegation, so that would pacify the majority, although it still wouldn’t be 100 per cent perfect.

“Rangers would still be unhappy because they’re not wanting to give in the title at all, and the 3rd and 4th placed teams in the play-off positions would maybe feel a little aggrieved.

“But whatever they do, it’s not going to keep everyone happy.

“They need to make a decision now that takes the uncertainty out of it, provides clarity, and gets payments out to the football clubs for the position you’re currently in.

“Getting ‘x’ amount of money in now would help Raith Rovers, and other teams like us, to survive until such times as, hopefully, the new season starts.”

As it stands, there is no football activity at Stark’s Park with all games and training cancelled for the foreseeable future.

“The players have all got individual training programs to keep them ticking over,” McGlynn said.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have £20,000 to spend on GPS units to be able to monitor exactly what they are doing, so we’ve got to trust the players.

“I don’t see us being able to come out of this and just start playing without getting a proper chance to get players fit again.”