The row over restructuring the Scottish leagues is rumbling on with no sign of a resolution in sight. The Scottish Football League (SFL) has rejected the Scottish FA’s offer of help in the row. The SFL wants to discuss all the possible options internally, which could include a breakway to join the top flight.
The Scottish Premier League’s (SPL) 12-12-18 proposals were rejected on Monday after they failed to secure the necessary 11-1 majority, St. Mirren and Ross County voting against.
The row over restructuring the Scottish leagues is rumbling on with no sign of a resolution in sight. The Scottish Football League (SFL) has rejected the Scottish FA’s offer of help in the row. The SFL wants to discuss all the possible options internally, which could include a breakway to join the top flight.
The Scottish Premier League’s (SPL) 12-12-18 proposals were rejected on Monday after they failed to secure the necessary 11-1 majority, St. Mirren and Ross County voting against.
At least as important as the actual shape of the restructuring is the five principles embodied in the plan. These are a single league body; fairer financial distribution; introduction of play offs; parachute payments; and a pyramid below the Third Division.
The Scottish Football League has backed a 16-10-16 structure. The recent National Football Survey conducted by the Scottish FA showed that 87 per cent of fans want a top more division of more than 12 teams. A bare majority of 51 per cent would prefer 16 teams.
SPL clubs opposed the 16-10-16 format because of the drop in the number of games that would result. There is also a concern that there would be a greater disparity between the top and bottom of the division.
It may be that the longer run solution involves Rangers and Celtic playing south of the border. This would create a genuinely competitive top division in Scotland. On the other hand, clubs would lose the big boost they get to crowds from visits by Celtic and, in the past and in the future, Rangers.