Inverness plan appeal for promotion

Inverness Caledonian Thistle have informed the Scottish Football Association they intend to appeal against the decision to deny them promotion.

The Bell’s Division One champions needed at least eight Bank of Scotland Premier League clubs to back their proposal to ground-share with Aberdeen next season.

But, following a general meeting of the Premier League at Hampden Park yesterday, the Highlanders won only seven votes in their favour, meaning they will remain in the First Division and Partick Thistle will avoid relegation.

Furious chairman Ken Mackie vowed to lodge an appeal against the decision following yesterday’s meeting and the SFA have confirmed the hearing is set to take place at the end of the month.

An SFA spokesman said: “The SFA have been notified verbally by Inverness Caledonian Thistle that the club intend to appeal against the decision of the Scottish Premier League to refuse promotion to that league.

“Assuming the written appeal is properly submitted in accordance with the SFA’s Appeals Procedures (detailed in Article 133), the SFA will send a copy of the appeal to all relevant parties for their comments.

“Once all submissions are received, a meeting of the SFA Appeals Committee, or an Appeals Sub-Committee, will be set up to consider the case.

“It is not possible at this stage to give a precise timescale of this meeting, particularly in advance of an appeal being submitted, but it is likely that appeal would be heard by the end of June.

“On legal advice, the SFA cannot comment further on the nature of the appeal, other than to confirm in due course the date of the hearing, and the composition of the Committee.”

It is believed Celtic, Rangers and Dundee voted against Inverness’ proposal, while Dundee United and Partick abstained, meaning they lost out by just one vote.

While others were remaining tight-lipped over the secret ballot yesterday, Dundee chairman Jimmy Marr defended his decision to slam the door shut on Inverness.

Any upgrading of their Caledonian Stadium to meet the 10,000-seater criteria would have had to have taken place by March 31 and the Dens chief insists they should have had their groundshare plans in place by then also.

He told the Dundee Evening Telegraph: “The vote was not about settling old scores. It was about following rules that were put in place for a purpose and that is what we did.

“It did not matter who was involved. It was simply about the fact we were being asked to consider an application long after the deadline had passed.

“I’ve every sympathy for Caley’s position and would have liked to have seen them in the SPL next season, but the facts are that everyone else followed the rules and they did not.”