Tonight's the Night?

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Wednesday, June 25

9.30pm And the outcome of tonight's appeal hearing at Hampden is... ...no decision has been taken yet and the meeting has adjourned for the night. They will reconvene at Hampden at 6.30pm tomorrow. Apparently each party were given 45 mins to put across their case. The farce continues! SFA Chief Executive David Taylor said after the meeting: "We have spent almost three hours on the case tonight. It is a complicated set of legal arguments we are considering and to be fair to both parties we will listen to these in some depth. The matter is to be continued for further deliberations tomorrow evening. I can't say when the decision will actually be made - what I can say is that we will reach a decision that will be legal and binding and that is what we aim to do as quickly as possible. We will go on as long as is necessary to get a decision on this." SPL Chairman Lex Gold: "There are a number of legal points of issue, but we made sure our view has been clearly and fairly heard. I hope we get a decision tonight because it would be in everyone's interests and we would like to see it brought to an end. We are happy with the way it is being handled by the SFA and we can look forward to hearing the judgement soon, but I can't say when because I am not in control of the process." Motherwell administrator Bryan Jackson: "I can't make any comment on the proceedings because we're still in the middle of them. "When the decision was made on May 23 there was no doubt or uncertainty on our part and, like other clubs, we are preparing for the new season. "All the issues are very complex and time consuming and I am not going to criticise those involved." 9.10am It seems that our SPL future will be decided once and for all tonight at Hampden, when Court of Session judge Lord Ronald MacLean will decide if the SPL were wrong to deny Falkirk promotion. If he rules in the Bairns' favour, the entire fixture card for next season will have to be ripped up and it is expected that Motherwell would take legal action. Motherwell have been given permission to make a fresh submission to tonight's meeting, and we will also cross examine Falkirk's claim that the SPL broke their own rules during the original vote that denied the Bairns promotion. SPL Secretary Ian Blair is quoted as saying: "If the judge rules we were wrong then Falkirk's name will replace Motherwell's on our fixture list. We would have to consider our own legal position and that could have implications where the new fixture list is concerned. The same dangers would arise if Motherwell decide to take out an interdict which prevents their name being removed from next season's fixtures pending more court action. But I would be surprised if Lord MacLean did not eventually support our case that the SPL has acted within the terms of our own constitution, although we have to be prepared for any eventuality." A Fir Park spokesman said: "We are very grateful for the chance to be represented at the hearing. Naturally we will make every effort to retain the SPL status secured for us by the other clubs. We will await the outcome of the hearing but we are confident the SPL acted correctly when they made their original decision." Tonight's hearing is scheduled to last from 6.30pm until 10pm, but will be adjourned until the same time on Thursday if no decision has been reached. Stevie Woods has signed for 1st Division newcomers Brechin City. Young Motherwell striker Philip Reid has been named in the Scotland Under-17 squad to take part in the Nordic Cup next month. Cast your vote in our TWO new Opinion Polls: Which area of the team most needs strengthening over the close season? and Who is your Player of the Year?