Hearts and Partick Thistle issued a joint statement this evening expressing surprise and disappointment that their bid to have the SPFL decision on the end of the season overturned was dismissed by an independent SFA arbitration panel.

The Tynecastle and Firhill clubs, who were forced to drop down into the Championship and League One respectively after final placings were decided on a points per game basis and league reconstruction was rejected last month, had been seeking to have the ruling reversed or £10m in compensation.

But after a week of “forensic examination” the three man independent panel set up by the SFA has decided unanimously the SPFL were entitled to pass the resolution meaning the promotions of Dundee United, Raith Rovers and Cove Rangers all stand.    

The statement read: “As all parties have been requested not to comment on the tribunal’s decision or reveal details of the hearings on the grounds of confidentiality, all we can only say is how disappointed and surprised we are at the outcome.

“We don’t regret taking this action as it was the right thing for us to do. There were better ways to deal with ending the season, fairer ways other than putting the burden of a pandemic on to three clubs.”