Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes believes the Scottish Cup should be played to a finish even if the Scottish Premiership cannot.
The SPFL has brought the Championship, League 1 and League 2 seasons to an end after member clubs back proposals to call a halt to the campaigns early.
With the shutdown and social distancing restrictions set to stay in place for another three weeks at least and no sign of players being able to train together before June 10 at the earliest the chances of the Premiership campaign ending are increasing with each passing week.
But the Aberdeen manager, who was due to lead his side out at Hampden in the Scottish Cup semi-final against holders Celtic last weekend, has urged the SFA to try to hold the cup semi-finals and final once the restrictions have been lifted.
The Dons boss believes three glamour games at the National Stadium will give supporters of all four clubs – the Dons, Celtic, Hearts and Hibs – something to look forward to and also generate some much needed revenue for the four participants remaining in the competition.
McInnes said: “Everyone has worked extremely hard to get to where we are so it would be a shame for the competition to be lost.
“So I believe it’s definitely the right thing for the SFA to do. It’s far easier to organise than eight weeks of league matches, it’s three games at one stadium and three sellouts.
“Financially it’s very important for the clubs and for the association. We will need every penny back into the game when we get going again.”
“It seems right that the Scottish Cup gets played even if that means fitting it into next season.
“It’s three games, three big games at the same stadium.”
Dons boss McInnes has maintained from the outset his desire was to end the league campaign if possible but he acknowledges the difficulty the SPFL has faced in trying to make that possible.
He said: “I’ve always said we should not give up to too soon if there is some way we can finish the season.
“But I think as time has gone by there has been some realism among the club. We all know it is becoming less likely.”
Rangers are unhappy at the prospect of the Premiership being brought to a premature end and have threatened legal action after voicing their concerns about the SPFL’s handling of the controversial vote of the 42 member clubs in the last week.
Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack, however, is keen to plan for the future and his manager insists it is vital clubs gain some sort of clarity so they can begin planning.
He said: “This has not been easy on anyone but it is important we also look at getting back to playing football at some point.
“We don’t know when we will be back but we still need to try to find some consensus of what we are coming back to once the restrictions have been lifted. I think that’s something every club would like.”
