East Fife: Threat of disciplinary action for Clyde call-off after Covid fears 'a joke' - Darren Young

A Clyde players' positive Covid-19 test led to the home game against East Fife being postponed

The SPFL decision to open disciplinary proceedings against East Fife for failing to fulfil Tuesday's League 1 visit to Clyde is "an absolute joke", says manager Darren Young.

The visitors refused to play following news of Clyde player's positive Covid-19 test shortly before kick-off.

Young insists the circumstances represented an "unnecessary risk".

"We weren't given an ultimatum, we were asked a question; 'are you comfortable?', he told BBC Scotland.

The match was delayed 15 minutes then called off, with Young explaining: "We were asked do we want to continue. The exact words used were 'if Clyde and East Fife agree, then the game can go ahead'.

"Less than 24 hours later, the goalposts appear to have been moved. The SPFL statement [announcing a disciplinary hearing on Thursday] doesn't even mention Covid."

In keeping, with SPFL rule, the league are obliged to open proceedings if a team fails to fulfil a fixture.

East Fife will be able to make their case at Thursday's hearing, at which it will be decided if the game is to be forfeited or whether it will be rearranged for next Thursday.

Young said East Fife were only informed of the positive test when they were going on to the pitch and several members of his squad expressed reservations about taking part.

"It's not his fault, but the player in question had already been in the changing room, done the warm-up and mixed with all the other players," he added.

"He had travelled up and down on one of two buses to Peterhead on Saturday and played some part in that game."

Young stressed that his priority was to safeguard the health of his squad and their families, saying that some of his team have partners that are pregnant, while others are self-employed and did not want to risk the loss of earnings that come with a period of isolation.

The East Fife boss said the "most sensible thing to do" would be to reschedule the match for next Thursday.

"It's ludicrous to think that when players' and their families' safety is on the line, they [the SPFL] are willing to take disciplinary action," he said.

With the division having split in two, Clyde occupy the relegation play-off position with three matches remaining, while sixth-place East Fife are safe from the drop.