'One of biggest issues Scottish football has faced'

Playing matches behind closed doors is "not the optimal" outcome for most Scottish clubs, says Hibernian chief executive Leeann Dempster.

Dempster has withdrawn from the SPFL's reconstruction group to focus on "the biggest issue facing our game".

She was one of 15 club officials named on Friday as part of the panel, but took no part in the group's first meeting on Monday.

"It's important we plan for supporters to be back in stadiums," said Dempster.

"And we need to do that as safely as possible, while of course considering things like social distancing and other elements, which we need to get right. We know the challenges that are there.

"Matchday revenue and tickets etc is the majority of the income streams. We need to try to protect that, but in a responsible way. And it's incumbent on clubs now to work together to make that happen."

Scottish football has been suspended indefinitely due to coronavirus since March 13, and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon warned on Monday that games will not be held in front of fans "any time soon".

The body representing Europe's top leagues says football will "no doubt" be played behind closed doors when it returns, but Dempster believes Scottish clubs must explore "every option available".

She described the coronavrius crisis as "one of the biggest issues that has ever faced the game in Scotland".

"We don't want to challenge government or health officials," Dempster added. "We want to work in partnership to look at a plan that allows us to get our stadia open as safely as we can.

"We need to make sure we are working with colleagues and learning from other sports around the world who are perhaps a couple of weeks or a month ahead of us."

Meanwhile, the lower-league season in Scotland was ended last week and the SPFL have the power to similarly curtail the Premiership, but Dempster says that is not "inevitable".

"There is an opportunity for us to explore how to play these matches and we need to be open-minded to that," she said.

"There will come a point, however, when we need to make a collective decision on how we end the season. At this moment in time I don't think we should be saying on a particular day the season is going to be 'called'."