Hamilton Academical beat Hibernian 4-3 on penalties this afternoon in the relegation/promotion play-off to secure the last place in next season's top flight.
After recovering from a 2-0 first leg defeat, Accies beat their opponents by the same scoreline today to take the tie to extra time, with no deadlock being found leading to the dreaded penalty shootout.
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| Hibs' short-lived joy as they win first leg 2-0. (@HibernianFCClub) |
With Hearts already long gone, the top flight will be without a club from the capital next year and as such the Edinburgh derby is relegated to the second tier.
Whilst bad for the clubs, it is perhaps even worse for the Scottish Premiership, which loses two of its best attended clubs. Only Celtic saw more fans through their turnstiles than Hearts this year and Hibs were a clear fourth in the attendance table this year with Aberdeen sandwiched in third place.
A league still struggling without Rangers, clubs in the Premiership must be even more concerned about yet another drop in gate revenue. While attendances at Dundee and Hamilton will surely rise thanks to their promotion, their combined gates will not even match those of Hibs, never mind Hearts.
Five clubs had an average of less than 5,000 through their gates per game this season. Next year it is likely to be seven. For more than half of the Scotland's top flight clubs to fail to break this mark is both disappointing and worrying given the country's passion for the sport and history in the game.
Next year's Championship is looking intriguing to say the least - Hearts and Hibs will be looking to put this season's woes behind them with an instant return.
But it won't be as simple as a straight fit between the two for the Championship title. Rangers will be looking to win a third successive promotion, and beaten play-off contenders Falkirk will want to at least match their third place finish if possible. Recent experience of this level may help them surprise their more illustrious rivals.
Hibernian boss Terry Butcher wants to stay but admits his future is out of his hands. His side's capitulation in their most important game of the season today is unlikely to go in his favour. Nor will the angry reaction of fans following the game. Hibs will prepare for life outside the top flight for the first time since 1999.
Hearts meanwhile need to regroup now their future has been secured with a change of ownership. Stability will hopefully return under new chairwoman Ann Budge and much depends on the success of the relationship between the returning Craig Levein in the director of football role and new head coach, and former Hearts player, Robbie Neilson.
Scotland's capital will not have a team in the top tier next season. The sooner this is remedied, the better for all involved.
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