ST Mirren Football Club has hit out after being told it is to suffer 3-0 defeats for two matches that were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Paisley outfit had faced a Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) disciplinary hearing after positive Covid tests meant it was unable to fulfil games against Motherwell and Hamilton in October.

St Mirren has now been informed its opponents in each of those matches is being awarded a 3-0 win after the club was found guilty of breaching coronavirus protocols.

A SPFL statement declared that St Mirren had admitted a failure by players and staff to physically distance on a coach and during a pre-match meal.

The Buddies also admitted "failing to provide suitable facilities to enable players to observe physical distancing at training" and accepted that players had been car sharing to and from sessions.

As well as losing the postponed fixtures, Saints have been hit with a £40,000 fine that will be suspended until June 2021, pending any further breaches of the SPFL’s Covid-19 regulations.

In a statement issued online, St Mirren said they are "disappointed" with the outcome of the SPFL disciplinary hearing.

They added: "The club operated honestly throughout the whole process and will review its position before issuing a further response."

A spokesman for the SPFL commended St Mirren for measures the board has recently put in place to avoid a repeat of the circumstances that led to the postponement of the matches in October.

However, he added: “The Covid-19 regulations put in place by the SPFL and the detailed protocols issued by the SPFL/Scottish FA Joint Response Group are intended to enable season 2020/21 to continue with the minimum of disruption and the minimum risk for those players and coaching staff involved.

"Strict adherence to these regulations and protocols is therefore crucially important in order for season 20/21 to be completed as scheduled.”