SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster today stressed the governing body would work with UEFA in an attempt to resolve the "complicated" predicament in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

European football's governing body has warned its 55 member associations that their leading clubs may be banned from the Champions League and Europa League if they abandon their top flight seasons due to the coronavirus crisis.

The 42 SPFL clubs are set to vote on resolutions to terminate the 2019/20 season in the Championship, League One and League Two - but only to postpone the Premiership.

Final league placings will be determined on a points per game basis based on league matches played to date - with Dundee United, Raith Rovers and Cove Rangers being promoted and Partick Thistle and Stranraer being relegated.

A lengthy statement stated that the Premiership would be decided in the same way if top flight matches are unable to be played in the summer - meaning that Celtic would be crowned champions.

But the statement mentioned that league reconstruction ahead of the 2020/21 campaign was a possibility, which would suggest that Hearts, who are four points adrift at the bottom of the Premiership, could be spared from the drop.

Doncaster stressed the SPFL would work with UEFA in an attempt to resolve the issues they face in the Premiership moving forward.

He said: “As a board, we have consulted extensively with clubs in all four divisions since football was suspended on March 13 and have taken expert legal and commercial advice.

“Now is the right time to act. Very regrettably, we must face the reality that it’s simply not possible for the remaining Ladbrokes Championship, League 1 and League 2 fixtures to remain postponed without causing significant further financial harm to clubs in those divisions. Further, many of our clubs are experiencing very challenging organisational and financial circumstances.

“Everyone in our game, and in the country generally, is wrestling with the devastating impact of Covid-19. We all know there are no easy answers or simple solutions, but the board’s recommended proposal will give us a far greater degree of certainty, minimise the harm to the game overall, and enable us make end-of-season fee payments now to Ladbrokes Championship, League 1 and League 2 clubs."

He added: “The position for the Ladbrokes Premiership remains particularly complicated. Everyone is aware of UEFA’s desire for the family of European football to work together to resolve the issues that confront us all. We are keen to work with UEFA and remain in discussion with them over the situation in Scotland.

“The quicker we reach a final position the better, but there is no doubt this is the most complicated and challenging situation our game has faced in living memory.”