Falkirk promotion ko'd

Falkirk were told late last night that they will start the new season in the First Division after the Scottish Football Association appeals committee upheld the Scottish Premier League’s decision to deny them promotion and give Motherwell a stay of execution.

The grave news came just before midnight following a marathon 10 hours of discussions at Hampden Park.

The SFA’s three-man panel, headed by Lord Ranald MacLean, decided to throw out the Brockville club’s appeal after deeming that the SPL had acted legally.

SFA chief executive David Taylor said: “The appeal by Falkirk Football Club against the decision by the SPL has been refused.”

Falkirk chairman Campbell Christie was understandably disappointed and said he will be sitting down with his legal team to discuss what further action could be taken.

He said: “We are highly disappointed with decision and we will consider our position and make public our statement on the website and I have nothing further to say.

“We will take stock of our decision with our legal advisers and see where we go from here.”

The Bell’s First Division champions of last season challenged the SPL’s initial decision to deny them promotion to the top flight on the grounds that they did not meet the stadia criteria laid down in their constitution.

The controversial decision allowed Fir Park club Motherwell to escape relegation, which sparked wild celebrations in Lanarkshire.

But fuming Falkirk chiefs refused to concede defeat and appealed against the ruling, which prompted these lengthy and tortuous talks.

The SFA had to decide whether the SPL had acted legally and within their rights and after over 10 hours and three days of deliberation at Hampden Park the three-man panel adjourned to consider their verdict.

And finally the waiting fans outside the stadium were put out of their misery and gave Motherwell the news they wanted to hear and Falkirk that which they have dreaded.

Taylor added: “The decision reviewed was the decision of the majority of the clubs of the SPL voting at the general meeting.

“We are not satisfied that Falkirk Football Club had the necessary power to rights of occupancy at the Shyberry Excelsior Stadium to be shared with Airdrie United.

“The tribunal decided that, on the information before the SPL, that the SPL members were entitled to reach that verdict and it could not be said the decision was irrational and unreasonable.”

Motherwell administrator Bryan Jackson was the last to emerge and he breathed a sigh of relief at the outcome.

“We were always fairly confident with the initial agreement and we wouldn’t have signed the players and planned for next season had we not been,” said Jackson.

“We appreciate we have been the benefactors from the decision being upheld, but the club would have survived and there would have been no automatic winding up. However, we would have had to adapt and it would have been very difficult.

“Its a total relief. We were quietly confident but always anxious. This reflects the SPL directors behaved correctly at the time but we do have some sympathy for Falkirk.”