Hearts & Partick Thistle relegations confirmed by arbitration panel

Hearts and Partick Thistle will be in the Scottish Championship and League One respectively this season after an arbitration panel decided not to overturn their relegations.

The clubs took legal action after being demoted when last term ended early.

They wanted the Court of Session to reverse the promotions of Dundee United, Raith Rovers and Cove Rangers and keep them up instead.

However, a three-strong panel has ruled that the relegations should stand.

Both Hearts and Thistle could now face paying costs after a prolonged legal fight.

The SPFL and each of the five clubs involved have yet to comment publicly on the verdict.

After a Court of Session hearing earlier this month, Lord Clark decreed that an independent tribunal should hear the case under Scottish FA rules.

That started a week-and-a-half ago, with both sides selecting a QC from an approved list, and agreeing on a chair.

That panel has deliberated over the evidence and delivered its conclusion - less than a week before the Premiership season is scheduled to start on 1 August.