Former Barnsley manager Daniel Stendel relegated with Hearts as SPFL opts to curtail Scottish Premiership season

It was agreed between clubs last week that completing the campaign was unfeasible with final placings decided on a points-per-game basis.

Stendel, who guided Barnsley to promotion from League One last year, was sacked by the Oakwell club in October before being appointed manager at Tynecastle on a two-and-a-half year deal in December.

The curtailment of the campaign north of the border has resulted in a ninth-straight league title for Celtic, their 51st overall.

Hearts meanwhile were four points behind Hamilton Academical at the bottom of the table with eight games, and 24 points, left to play for.

A statement from the SPFL today confirmed that there was a unanimous agreement from all 12 top-flight clubs that the Scottish season could not be completed.

"The SPFL has today announced that, following consultation with all 12 top-flight clubs, the Board of the SPFL has determined that the 2019-20 Ladbrokes Premiership has been concluded with immediate effect," read the statement.

"As with the Ladbrokes Championship, Ladbrokes League One and Ladbrokes League Two competitions, final season placings have been determined by points per game in league matches played to 13 March 2020 by each club.

"The decision means that Celtic are crowned 2019-20 champions and Hearts have been relegated to the Ladbrokes Championship."

Hearts have responded to the announcement by stating it is unfair that any club should be punished because of the coronavirus outbreak and have threatened legal action if a resolution cannot be reached.

"We have stated from the outset that we don’t believe it is right that any club should be unfairly penalised because of the Covid-19 pandemic," read a club statement.

"It was previously indicated that league reconstruction would not generate enough support to pass a vote between member clubs. In recent days a number of positive talks have been held with both the SPFL and member clubs and this topic is currently being revisited.

"Hearts will shortly submit a member’s resolution that we believe is a pragmatic solution to the issues the game currently faces and a way forward that the clubs can unite behind.

"It is our belief that this resolution, if supported, will provide an opportunity to avoid disproportionately disadvantaging - financially and otherwise - any club."

The statement added: "As previously intimated the club has been taking legal advice throughout this process and are continuing to do so. We hope that the resolution being prepared will avoid the need to go down this route. Legal action would be both time consuming and expensive. However the cost to the club of relegation would outweigh these considerations."

Unlike the SPFL, the EFL have been consistent in their desire to complete the Championship campaign.

League Two opted to end their season early on Friday while a decision on the League One campaign is expected at some point this week.

Tykes manager Gerhard Struber believes that the season should be completed but if it cannot be done by July 31 then promotion and relegation should be scrapped.

He told the Yorkshire Post two weeks ago: “If the league is cancelled, my opinion is that all the results have no value and we must stay in the league."

Barnsley are seven points adrift of safety with nine games of the season remaining with a further EFL board meeting schedueled for Wednesdauy.